CHRIS BACKLEY/Daily Bruin The L.A. Xtreme will meet the
San Francisco Demons in the XFL championship game.
By Will Whitehorn
Daily Bruin Contributor
In a football league where the cheerleaders are clad in bikinis
and the national anthem is sung by the Easter Bunny, the most
intriguing aspect of Sunday’s XFL semifinal match was,
remarkably, the football.
The Los Angeles Xtreme (7-3) put together strong offensive and
defensive efforts to stymie the Chicago Enforcers, 33-16. The win
advances L.A. to the inaugural Million Dollar Game, the XFL’s
version of the Super Bowl, next Saturday at the Los Angeles
Coliseum.
L.A. will meet the San Francisco Demons for the XFL title and
will host the game by virtue of the Demons’ upset Saturday of
the Orlando Rage, who had the best record in the XFL this season
(8-2). The winning team will split the million-dollar prize among
its players, the XFL’s biggest possible payday.
Former UCLA standout quarterback Tommy Maddox started the game
on fire, completing his first three passes on L.A.’s first
possession before connecting with wideout Jermaine Copeland on a
26-yard slant to give the Xtreme a 6-0 lead. L.A. missed the chance
to increase the lead when running back Saladin McCullough was
stuffed on the conversion attempt.
After the Xtreme defense forced Chicago into a quick
three-and-out, L.A. again drove deep into Chicago territory. But
Copeland fumbled Maddox’s seven-yard pass at the 10-yard line
and Enforcer linebacker Chike Egbuniwe recovered to thwart L.A. The
Enforcers would drive to midfield on a screen pass to running back
John Avery and a 15-yard spurt by fellow back Leshon Johnson, but
quarterback Kevin McDougal and Chicago were unable to capitalize
and punted away.
Toward the end of the first half, the Xtreme lost a lead that
they had built to 9-3 when Noel Prefontaine’s punt was
blocked near the L.A. end zone and Egbuniwe returned it two yards
to tie the game. Johnson’s one-yard run gave Chicago a brief
10-9 lead with 1:45 left.
But Maddox executed the two-minute drill to perfection, picking
apart Chicago’s secondary with short passes and well-timed
running plays. He found receiver Darnell McDonald with a 15-yard
touchdown pass to reclaim the lead. Maddox hit McDonald again
moments later to convert the two-point play and give L.A. a 17-10
lead at the break.
In the third quarter, the teams exchanged field goals.
McCullough, who finished with 164 yards, advanced downfield to set
up a 48-yard field goal from Jose Cortez.
“We knew with the type of defense they were going to play,
we’d have to be able to run the ball,” McCullough said.
“Coming out D-Mac (McDonald) was like, “˜The game is on
your shoulders, you gotta run the ball like hell.'”
Chicago closed to within 20-16 early in the fourth, but then
McCullough broke free around the left end on a 44-yard touchdown
run. Chicago continued to threaten, driving inside the Xtreme
20-yard line, but L.A. cornerback Clifton Abraham intercepted
McDougal at the 12-yard line, then bobbed and weaved on an
electrifying 88-yard touchdown return to ice the game and send L.A.
to the championship.
McDougal threw three costly interceptions and couldn’t get
a touchdown for the Enforcers.
The Xtreme are wary heading into the game with the Demons.
“I told our team we’re playing the best two out of
three (with San Francisco), only this time we’re playing for
all the marbles,” Head Coach Al Luginbill said, referring to
L.A.’s two previous meetings with the Demons. L.A. lost 15-13
on opening weekend, but ended the season with a 24-0 win over the
Demons last week.
“Anytime you start the season you want to be playing at
the end,” said Maddox, who finished 18 of 24 for 171 yards
and two touchdowns. “Since I left UCLA, I’ve never had
a shot to go play a game, and no matter what the outcome, go play
the next game. (The most fun) has been playing the game, getting to
play week in and week out. We got one more. We’re not done
yet.”