The 2023 Orlando Guardians season was the second season for the Orlando Guardians as a professional American football franchise. They played as charter members of the XFL, one of eight teams to compete in the league for the 2023 season.[1] The Guardians played their home games at the Camping World Stadium and were led by head coach Terrell Buckley.
2023 Orlando Guardians season | |
---|---|
Owner | Alpha Acquico, LLC |
General manager | Terrell Buckley |
Head coach | Terrell Buckley |
Home field | Camping World Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 1–9 |
Division place | 4th XFL South |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
The franchise also relocated from East Rutherford, New Jersey to Orlando, Florida prior to the season, changing their name from New York Guardians to Orlando Guardians.[2]
On January 1, 2024, it was announced that the 2023 season was the last season for the Guardians.[3][4]
Roster changes
editOn March 3, 2023, the Guardians released quarterback Quinten Dormady after he allegedly gave the San Antonio Brahmas plays from the Guardians' playbook prior to the two teams' week 2 matchup.[5][6] He was reinstated a day later, on March 4, 2023, when the league released a statement saying they would be investigating into the situation.[7] He was subsequently placed on the team's reserve list.[8] After undergoing a third party investigation, it was found that there was no substantial proof behind the allegations, and Dormandy was added back to the active roster.[9]
Final Roster
editQuarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
|
Reserve lists
Rookies in italics |
Schedule
editAll times Eastern
Week | Day | Date | Kickoff | TV | Opponent | Results | Location | Attendance | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Score | Record | ||||||||
1 | Saturday | February 18 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN/FX | at Houston Roughnecks | 12–33 | 0–1 | TDECU Stadium | 12,784 |
2 | Sunday | February 26 | 4:00 p.m. | ESPN | San Antonio Brahmas | 12–30 | 0–2 | Camping World Stadium | 12,011 |
3 | Sunday | March 5 | 4:00 p.m. | FX | at Arlington Renegades | 9–10 | 0–3 | Choctaw Stadium | 12,006 |
4 | Saturday | March 11 | 7:00 p.m. | FX | Houston Roughnecks | 16–44 | 0–4 | Camping World Stadium | 10,013 |
5 | Saturday | March 18 | 10:00 p.m. | FX | at Vegas Vipers | 32–35 | 0–5 | Cashman Field | 6,008 |
6 | Saturday | March 25 | 1:00 p.m. | ABC | Seattle Sea Dragons | 19–26 | 0–6 | Camping World Stadium | 7,832 |
7 | Saturday | April 1 | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN | DC Defenders | 37–36 | 1–6 | Camping World Stadium | 7,011 |
8 | Saturday | April 8 | 4:00 p.m. | ESPN | Arlington Renegades | 16–18 | 1–7 | Camping World Stadium | 7,789 |
9 | Saturday | April 15 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN2 | at San Antonio Brahmas | 23–25 | 1–8 | Alamodome | 13,023 |
10 | Saturday | April 22 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN | at St. Louis BattleHawks | 28–53 | 1–9 | The Dome at America's Center | 33,034 |
Game summaries
editWeek 1: at Houston Roughnecks
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Guardians | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
Roughnecks | 6 | 15 | 0 | 12 | 33 |
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 2: vs. San Antonio Brahmas
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brahmas | 6 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 30 |
Guardians | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
- Date: February 26
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 86 °F (30 °C)
- Game attendance: 12,011
- Referee: Mike Vandervelde
- TV announcers (ESPN): Tom Hart, Greg McElroy, and Cole Cubelic
- [2]
Game information | ||
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Week 3: at Arlington Renegades
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Guardians | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
Renegades | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 4: vs. Houston Roughnecks
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roughnecks | 20 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 44 |
Guardians | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 16 |
at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
- Date: March 11
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C)
- Game attendance: 10,013
- Referee: Reggie Smith
- TV announcers (FX): John Schriffen, Tom Luginbill, and Stormy Buonantony
- [4]
Game information | ||
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Week 5: at Vegas Vipers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Guardians | 7 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 32 |
Vipers | 8 | 9 | 6 | 12 | 35 |
at Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Date: March 18
- Game time: 10:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C)
- Game attendance: 6,008
- Referee: Mike Vandervelde
- TV announcers (FX): Matt Barrie, Joey Galloway, and Tiffany Blackmon
- [5]
Game information | ||
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Week 6: vs. Seattle Sea Dragons
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sea Dragons | 3 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 26 |
Guardians | 0 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 19 |
at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
- Date: March 25
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 83 °F (28 °C)
- Game attendance: 7,832
- Referee: Francisco Villar
- TV announcers (ABC): Roy Philpott, Joey Galloway, and Tiffany Blackmon
- [6]
Game information | ||
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Week 7: vs. DC Defenders
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Defenders | 14 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 36 |
Guardians | 12 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 37 |
at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
- Date: April 1
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C)
- Game attendance: 7,011
- Referee: Chris Coyte
- TV announcers (FX): John Schriffen, Tom Luginbill, and Harry Douglas
- [7]
Game information | ||
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|
This was the Guardians only win of the season, knocking off the previously undefeated DC Defenders.
Week 8: vs. Arlington Renegades
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Renegades | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 18 |
Guardians | 3 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 16 |
at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
- Date: April 8
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 86 °F (30 °C)
- Game attendance: 7,789
- Referee: Jeff Heaser
- TV announcers (ESPN): John Schriffen, Tom Luginbill, and Stormy Buonantony
- [8]
Game information | ||
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|
Week 9: at San Antonio Brahmas
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Guardians | 8 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 23 |
Brahmas | 0 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 25 |
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 10: at St. Louis BattleHawks
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Guardians | 6 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 28 |
BattleHawks | 3 | 22 | 14 | 14 | 53 |
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Standings
editNorth Division[12] | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | TD+/- | TD+ | TD- | DIV | PF | PA | DIFF | STK | ||
(y) DC Defenders | 9 | 1 | .900 | 0 | -2 | 33 | 35 | 6–0 | 298 | 240 | 58 | W3 | ||
(x) Seattle Sea Dragons | 7 | 3 | .700 | 2 | +10 | 30 | 20 | 3–3 | 243 | 177 | 66 | W2 | ||
(e) St. Louis Battlehawks | 7 | 3 | .700 | 2 | +9 | 32 | 23 | 3–3 | 249 | 202 | 47 | W1 | ||
(e) Vegas Vipers | 2 | 8 | .200 | 7 | 0 | 28 | 28 | 0–6 | 184 | 252 | -68 | L3 | ||
South Division[12] | ||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | TD+/- | TD+ | TD- | DIV | PF | PA | DIFF | STK | ||
(y) Houston Roughnecks | 7 | 3 | .700 | 0 | +4 | 30 | 26 | 6–0 | 247 | 182 | 65 | W3 | ||
(x) Arlington Renegades | 4 | 6 | .400 | 3 | -8 | 15 | 23 | 3–3 | 146 | 194 | -48 | L2 | ||
(e) San Antonio Brahmas | 3 | 7 | .300 | 4 | -8 | 16 | 24 | 3–3 | 169 | 183 | -14 | L1 | ||
(e) Orlando Guardians | 1 | 9 | .100 | 6 | -5 | 32 | 37 | 0–6 | 204 | 310 | -106 | L3 | ||
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (y)–clinched division; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention |
Staff
edit
|
|
*Defensive Line coach Ty Warren was no longer on the Staff after Week 5. Mark Snyder took over Week 6.[13]
*After week 5, Devin Bush Sr. was added to the coaching stuff as a defensive analyst.[14]
References
edit- ^ a b "New Orlando Guardians of the XFL will open season Feb. 18". Spectrum News 13. January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
- ^ Mates, Thomas (October 31, 2022). "XFL announces name of Orlando team in 3rd attempt at starting new football league". WKMG-TV. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
- ^ Murschel, Matt (January 1, 2024). "Orlando Guardians won't move forward after USFL-XFL merger". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
- ^ Lynch, Ryan (January 1, 2024). "Orlando Guardians cut from merged XFL/USFL". Orlando Business Journal. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
- ^ "XFL Quarterback Reportedly Cut From Team After Giving Opposing Team Plays From QB Playbook". MSN. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ Romero, Gabriel (March 3, 2023). "Former Boerne QB investigated for allegedly sharing XFL plays". mySA. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ Dedaj, Paulina (March 3, 2023). "XFL reinstates Guardians quarterback Quinten Dormady day after release for allegedly sharing team plays". Fox News. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ "XFL Transactions". XFL.com. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ "Orlando QB Dormady reinstated after XFL probe". ESPN.com. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ Walker, Alex (January 5, 2023). "XFL announces schedule for Orlando Guardians". WFTV. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
- ^ Murschel, Matt (January 5, 2023). "Orlando Guardians' first XFL season features 5 home games". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
- ^ a b "XFL Standings". XFL.com. February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ Larsen, James [@JamesLarsenPFN] (March 21, 2023). "Ty Warren, @XFLGuardians Defensive Line Coach, is no longer with the team, per @FootballScoop. Linebackers coach Mark Snyder will assume both DL and LB duties from here on out. #XFL" (Tweet). Retrieved March 28, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Devin Bush Sr. Joins Guardians Coaching Staff, DL Coach Ty Warren Out". xflnewshub.com.