XFL Week Five: N.Y. Guardians Surge to Victory Over Dallas Renegades

From the desk of:  GOTHAM GARGOYLES OF THE GRIDIRON

WEEK FIVE

GUARDIANS   30

RENEGADES   12

Halfway through the XFL regular season, the New York Guardians have finally established an identity.  They're a feisty and undisciplined bunch, sometimes both at the same time, yet find themselves in a three way tie for first place of the XFL East.

The Gargoyles are a defensive oriented team first, with good special teams second.  They rank number two in the league with 13 sacks, and fourth with eight turnovers.  And when you take into account their week two (0-27) loss against the Defenders, followed by a (9-29) trouncing at St. Louis, New York still ranks second in average points against.

With starting quarterback Matt McGloin out nursing a rib injury, the Guardians offense has actually stabilized through better game management via back-up quarterback Luis Perez playing off a credible running game.  Through five games New York is 7th in average yards per game, and rank last with only 15.8 points per game.  However, they rank 5th in rushing averaging 98.6 yards per game.

Saturday against the Dallas Renegades the trio of Justin Stockton, Tim Cook, and Darius Victor, rushed 29 times for 125 yards.  Luis Perez was 16/30 for 229 yards, with a touchdown pass to Colby Pearson, and an INT.  The Guardians recorded three sacks, two by DT Cavon Walker.

After losing two straight, the Guardians are now winners of two straight.  They have allowed their opponents an average of 9.6 points in each of their three victories.

Shout out to Coach Gilbride.  He identified a problem three weeks into the season and took corrective action.  The last two games speak for themselves.