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THIS IS THE XFL — The latest iteration of the XFL kicked off this weekend, with the latest iteration of Seattle SeaDragons, Vegas Vipers, St. Louis Battlehawks and D.C. Defenders being led by celebrity owner Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
And it did not disappoint.
Week 1 featured an array of highlights, both on the field and off it, including some D.C. fans throwing lemons on the field to protest a beer snake, the "thicc six" heard 'round the league by a former BYU defensive lineman, and a unique alternative to the onside kick that has football fans talking several days later.
The sour protest
In Washington D.C., fans had a tradition since the league's first return three years ago of making a "beer cup snake" with empty cups during the game, but stadium security at Audi Field was having none of that.
So what did those same fans do when they couldn't have their snake? They protested, of course — by throwing lemons on the turf.
WILD SCENE IN DC. The Beer Snake was taken away. Players throw lemons on the field in protest.
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) February 20, 2023
Then, Ben DiNucci throws a pick six to Michael Joseph and the place goes NUTS. This is #XFL football. You gotta love it. @XFL2023pic.twitter.com/4Wi6GIrIXZ
Players had to be cleared off the field for safety concerns after fans started pelting the ground with said lemons, causing a stalemate until Ben DiNucci threw an interception that was returned for a D.C. touchdown and had Defenders fans celebrating for on-field reasons.
The thicc-six
Former BYU defensive lineman Tomasi Lauli had quite the debut for the Arlington Renegades, scoring the first interception return for a touchdown in the league's 2023 season.
During the Renegades' 22-20 win over the Vegas Vipers, Laulile — dubbed "thicc six" for the combination of a Piesman Trophy-worthy big boy touchdown and a pick six — hauled in a short pass in the back field and returned it 24 yards to the house to help Arlington overturn a 14-3 deficit with one of two interception returns on the day.
First pick-six of the @XFL2023 season is a big man TD 😤 @XFLRenegadespic.twitter.com/YZ7XhWdi3I
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 18, 2023
Laulile and the Renegades play the Houston Roughnecks next Sunday at 5 p.m. MST on ESPN2.
The onside kick alternative
The play that had football talk was St. Louis Battlehawks quarterback AJ McCarron hitting Austin Proehl for a first down on an onside kick alternative, when teams are allowed to opt for a fourth-and-15 play on their own 25-yard line after a touchdown instead of kicking off.
The play helped the Battlehawks rally for a late touchdown to edge the San Antonio Brahmas 18-15, and has both college football and NFL fans wondering if each of the other systems of football should adopt the rule.
In the XFL: Instead of an onside kick, the trailing team can maintain possession with a 4th-and-15 play from its own 25-yard line.
It just worked for the St. Louis BattleHawks.
This was brought to NFL owners in the past but didn't get enough votes.pic.twitter.com/qNP5QukWMy— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 19, 2023
What do you think? Should the NFL or college football adopt this rule? Let us know in the comments.
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