The Orlando Guardians put up their highest points of the season with five touchdowns, but were still unable to defeat the Vipers, who took the win with a 35-32 score at Cashman Field. The Orlando Guardians (0-5) are now half way to becoming the first XFL or USFL football team to end up losing every game in a single season. On a positive note one of the biggest improvements was from Latimer with 1TD, and 124 yards and a very positive production from QB Quinten Dormady with 256 yards, 2 TD passes and no interceptions.
.@CodyLatimer14 in Week 5 ????
✅ 1 TD
✅ 8 REC
✅ 124 Yards
✅ 4 15+ Yard REC pic.twitter.com/FZC3K8yib8
— Orlando Guardians (@XFLGuardians) March 19, 2023
The Guardians started off the game with a 67 yard drive and Quinton Flowers concluding it with a one-yard quarterback sneak. With a successful one-point conversion by Jah-Maine Martin, the Guardians took the lead 7-0.
Vegas answered with their own touchdown from a 35-yard pass from Luis Perez to Jeff Badet and a two-point conversion from Perez to Rod Smith, putting the Vipers ahead 8-7. Vegas increased their lead to 17-7 in the second quarter, with Sean Price catching a three-yard pass from Perez and a 39-yard field goal.
Orlando cut their deficit to 17-13 before halftime with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Quinten Dormady to Charleston Rambo.
Vegas started the third quarter with a 53-yard drive, with Smith scoring a one-yard touchdown to make it 23-13. The Guardians responded with a two-yard rush by Martin, bringing Orlando within four, 23-19. Smith scored another one-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to extend Vegas’ lead to 29-19.
.@d_dking34 answers back with 6 ????
Keep. Going. pic.twitter.com/PcpeKtfnKY
— Orlando Guardians (@XFLGuardians) March 19, 2023
The Guardians responded with a two-yard touchdown from Devin Darrington and a one-point conversion run from Darrington, narrowing the deficit to 29-26. The Vipers increased their lead to 35-26 with a 25-yard pass from Perez to Badet, but the Guardians responded with a 45-yard touchdown pass from Dormady to Cody Latimer, making it 35-32. Orlando failed to convert a 3-point conversion that would have tied the game, and their final chance for possession was thwarted by a sack and two penalties. Dormady finished the game 22-of-25 passing for 256 yards and two touchdowns, while Perez completed 20 of 28 throws for 269 yards.
CAN WE GET A WIN
It’s been a tough first season for the home team. The Orlando Guardians are now the lowest-ranked team in the league. It seems some real magic was figured out in the quarterback position with a successful passing game from Dormady. It’s now time to take all of these losses and come back swinging. Let’s go Guardians!
