Sea Dragon WR Jordan Veasy celebrates and looks at the home fans after he scored the go ahead touchdown Feb. 23. Photos by Ben Ray/Sound Publishing

Sea Dragon WR Jordan Veasy celebrates and looks at the home fans after he scored the go ahead touchdown Feb. 23. Photos by Ben Ray/Sound Publishing

XFL is back in Seattle – here’s what you need to know

Sea Dragons drop home opener to St. Louis Battlehawks.

The XFL is back in the Pacific Northwest after a three-year hiatus, and the Seattle Sea Dragons opened up Lumen Field for more professional football.

The Sea Dragons came home to play in front of their own fans Feb. 23 and gain some Seattle support. A decent crowd came out in the below freezing temperatures to watch their home team take on the St. Louis Battlehawks. This came after a brutal last second fumble in their opening game of the season Feb. 19 on the road at Washington, D.C., losing 22-18.

“For a Thursday crowd, it was a great atmosphere. It was pretty cool to get up here and play in front of our home crowd…We’re gonna need them here the rest of the year,” said quarterback Ben DiNucci.

With the XFL, there are distinct rule changes that are looking to influence even the NFL level. There is a different setup for kickoffs, the opportunity to go for a three-point attempt after a touchdown, and in the fourth quarter, if a team wants to keep possession, it can attempt to convert a 4th-and-15 play to complete a comeback as opposed to attempting an onside kick.

There are also several players from the state of Washington sprinkled throughout the league. Federal Way native Charlie Taumoepau is the only tight end on the Sea Dragons roster. The St. Louis Battlehawks have two players on their roster from Washington. The team with the most players from Washington state is the San Antonio Brahmas, who have six players from the state on their roster, including Gavin Robertson from Auburn Mountainview High School.

The Sea Dragons are now 0-2 to start their season, with both losses coming on the last play of the game, which is something new for Seattle Head Coach Jim Haslett: “I’ve never lost one game in the last second in my career. Now it’s just doubling up on that.”

Seattle WR Josh Gordon warming up before kickoff Feb. 23 at Lumen Field. Photos by Ben Ray/Sound Publishing

Seattle WR Josh Gordon warming up before kickoff Feb. 23 at Lumen Field. Photos by Ben Ray/Sound Publishing

In the first half Feb. 23, the Sea Dragons were out to a 12-8 lead, and their defense held the Battlehawks in check. In the first quarter, the Sea Dragons allowed just six yards of rushing offense.

The second half was one to forget for the Sea Dragons. Seattle fumbled the football three times, all in the second half, all three of which were recovered by St. Louis.

Even with the Sea Dragons losing the turnover battle, they were able to score a go-ahead touchdown on fourth down. It took a perfect throw from QB Ben DiNucci to find receiver Jordan Veasy in the back of the endzone for the score, putting Seattle out in front, 18-17.

The Battlehawks were then able to drive down the field with 1:11 left in the game and a single time out. With seven seconds left, St. Louis completed a nine-yard pass, sneaking them into field goal range. As time expired, the Battlehawks kicked the go-ahead field goal, walking off with a win against the Sea Dragons by a score of 20-18.

It’s been a rough start for the Sea Dragons, but DiNucci believes that his team can make a run: “We got eight games left and we’ve got the guys on this team to do it.”

Tickets range from $18-24. Lumen Field isn’t selling tickets for the upper bowl, so there isn’t a bad seat in the house. If the first two games are an insight to the excitement the league can bring, there is no doubt the Sea Dragons will have fans for the weeks to come.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Sports

t
Kent-based T-Birds set win record; clinch top playoff seed

Seattle defeats Kamloops 6-3 for 53rd victory

Armani Albert runs down the sideline with a defender draped all over him.
Boys soccer: Kentwood ties Puyallup on the pitch

Conks’ record now 1-1-1 through first three games.

Kentwood center fielder Jackson Dulay up to bat. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentwood baseball drops home opener

Trevor Nyhusmoen goes three scoreless innings on the mound.

Kentwood’s starting pitcher Tyler Maurer faces Liberty on March 14. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kent 2023 high school sports spring preview

The 2023 spring sports season is upon us. Here is a preview… Continue reading

Kentridge junior Sydney Esperaza dribbles the ball down the floor. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls sent home with loss to Decatur

The Chargers have a bright future in front of them

Sea Dragon WR Jordan Veasy celebrates and looks at the home fans after he scored the go ahead touchdown Feb. 23. Photos by Ben Ray/Sound Publishing
XFL is back in Seattle – here’s what you need to know

Sea Dragons drop home opener to St. Louis Battlehawks.

Kentridge senior Dorian Thomas goes up for a lay up against Union in the second half. Photos by Ben Ray/The Reporter
Basketball: Kentridge boys hit with early exit at district tournament

Coach Jamison says “I’m done” and set for retirement after 25 years

Kentridge sophomore Tia Schanbeck takes a three in the fourth quarter. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls take out Kentwood on the road

The Charger girls need one win to secure a spot in the state tournament

Sarah Wright is the lone qualifier from Kentwood on the girls side. Photos by Ben Ray/The Reporter
Kent wrestlers have strong showings at regional competition

In local Kent high school wrestling action, Kent-Meridian took second place at… Continue reading