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Vipers draw over 18k in first XFL Home Game
- Updated: February 23, 2020
The Tampa Bay Vipers (0-2) hosted their first XFL home game at Raymond James Stadium against the undefeated Houston Roughnecks on Saturday. With over 18,117 in attendance, the Tampa Bay Vipers had the second-highest attendance for a home opener and the third-highest for attendance at an XFL game all season. With the XFL offering great prices on tickets, the crowd seemed to draw a lot of families to make their way out to the first Tampa Bay Vipers home game. Despite having the great fan turnout and energy, the Vipers came up short, unable to secure their first victory, losing 34-27.
The fans were eager to see the return of former USF quarterback Quinton Flowers to Raymond James Stadium. As the Vipers struggled offensively to move the ball in the first few drives, the fans began to chant, “We want Flowers.” The chants filled the stadium and got louder. Apparently these chants were heard by Vipers’ coach Marc Trestman, and Trestman decided to put in Flowers, pulling out quarterback Taylor Cornelius.
Flowers energized the Vipers by leading the team to their first offensive touchdown of the season and to a huge roar of the crowd, as fans were delighted to see the former USF standout leading the Vipers down the field. Flowers entered in the second quarter to cheers, and led the Vipers on a seven-play, 58-yard, go-ahead touchdown drive in less than three minutes, running into the end zone from 7 yards out then flexing toward the crowd and pulling off his helmet in celebration.
Unfortunately, this didn’t last long. After the Vipers went three-and-out on the next series, Flowers was replaced by Cornelius for the final drive of the first half, in which he drove the Vipers down the field to tie the game right before half time.
After half time, Flowers continued to remain a spectator as Trestmen continued to take his chances with Cornelius at the helm. Cornelius gave the Vipers the lead with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Dan Williams for a 26-24 advantage with just 2:06 left in the third quarter, but this lead was short lived.
When the Vipers came away with no points having a first-and-goal at the 2-yard line in the fourth quarter, with a chance to take the lead, the fans begin another round of boos and chants for Flowers to return. It was a perfect opportunity to bring in Flowers and utilize his running threat ability, but Flowers had to watch from the sidelines as the Vipers failed to score a potential winning touchdown.
“We have to shut the noise out,” Trestman said. “The good part is the noise is coming from people who really care about our football team and want to see us play well and win. … We’re an 0-3 football team and we’ll get to find out about ourselves during the course of the week and next.”
After the game, Flowers was asked if he believed he should be the Vipers’ starter, and he was clearly frustrated.
“Everybody feels like they should be the starter,” he said. “It’s guys that should be playing and you’re limiting guys, not playing guys, so it’s tough. But I know whenever these guys’ numbers (are) called or when my number’s called, we’re going to be ready.”
The Tampa Bay Vipers (o-3) hope to get their first win as they host the undefeated DC Defenders (2-0) at Raymond James Stadium next week on Sunday, March 1st at 7 pm.
