Xtreme Wins, Earns West Title, Home Playoff Game

The San Francisco Demons picked the wrong week to play the Los Angeles Xtreme.

Disgusted with their lackluster play in last week’s loss at Memphis, the Xtreme came to the Coliseum Saturday to make a point--and made several in a 24-0 victory over the Demons before 18,121.

It was the second shutout in XFL play and earned L.A. the West Division title and a home playoff game.

Los Angeles (7-3) will play host to either the Chicago Enforcers or the New York/New Jersey Hitmen--depending on which team wins today--in a playoff opener next Sunday at 4 p.m.

San Francisco (5-5) must travel to Orlando (8-1) and face the XFL’s winningest team on Saturday.

“In your first year it’s important to set a strong foundation,” Xtreme Coach Al Luginbill said. “After our opening game [a loss to San Francisco] I thought we had a long way to go. But now we’re division champions. No one can take that away from us. The playoffs remain to be seen. We have the chance to make it a very special season. But no win was more important [to the franchise] than the one today.”

Los Angeles had a league-low 556 rushing yards entering the game, but ran for a season high 173 against the Demons, who ranked second in the league in total defense.

Saladin McCullough had 73 yards and a touchdown in eight carries before leaving because of a strained right hamstring in the second quarter. Rashaan Shehee had 94 yards in 17 carries.

“As a quarterback you have to love that,” said Tommy Maddox, who completed 15 of 24 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown before being relieved by Scott Milanovich in the third quarter. “When you can run like that it takes a defense right out of its game.”

Defensively, the Xtreme was dominant, holding San Francisco to 261 total yards, intercepting Demon quarterback Mike Pawlawski twice and recording three sacks.

On five occasions the Xtreme stopped the Demons on fourth down, the last time with 31 seconds to play.

“Our confidence is back from last week,” linebacker Rico Mack said. “We definitely needed to realize our potential. We’ve had other games where we’d give up a big play here and there, and teams would score. Tonight we proved something to ourselves.”

The news wasn’t all good. Besides McCullough, receiver Larry Ryans was lost for the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament on his right knee. And receiver David Gibson missed much of the game because of a hyper-extended toe.

“I’m glad we don’t play until Sunday because we’re a banged up football team right now,” Luginbill said.

Maddox will finish as the XFL’s passing leader with 2,184 yards and 18 touchdown passes. He has thrown at least one touchdown pass in eight games.

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Jim Druckenmiller threw for 152 yards and a touchdown at Las Vegas to lead Memphis to a 16-3 victory against Las Vegas. The Maniax (5-5) and the Outlaws (4-6) missed the playoffs. Las Vegas lost five of its last six games.

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The Associated Press contributed to this story.