LOS ANGELES -- Tommy Maddox threw two touchdown passes, and
Saladin McCullough ran for 164 yards on 21 carries as the Los
Angeles Xtreme advanced to the XFL's first championship game by
beating the Chicago Enforcers 33-16 Sunday.
|  | | Tommy Maddox connected on 18 of 24 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns in leading Los Angeles to the XFL title game.
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The Xtreme will play the San Francisco Demons next Saturday at
the Los Angeles Coliseum. The Demons advanced by beating the
Orlando Rage 26-25 Saturday in the other semifinal.
"Now with San Francisco, it's the best two-out-of-three for all
the marbles," said Los Angeles coach Al Luginbill, whose team lost
to the Demons 15-13 in the season-opener, but won the rematch 24-0.
"San Francisco does one thing -- compete," Luginbill said.
"Whoever's quarterback is left standing at the end should win."
Before a season-low announced crowd of 13,081 at the Coliseum on
Sunday, Los Angeles' defense held its opponent without an offensive
touchdown for the second consecutive game.
Chicago's only touchdown came when Kivuusama Mays blocked Noel
Prefontaine's punt and Chike Egbuniwe returned it 2 yards. LeShon
Johnson's one-point conversion run gave the Enforcers a 10-9 lead
with 1:45 left in the first half.
Los Angeles took the lead for good 11 seconds before the break
on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Maddox to Damon Gibson, capping a
63-yard, eight-play drive. Maddox then passed to Darnell McDonald
for a two-point conversion, putting the Xtreme on top 17-10.
"We had a chance when we went up, but we couldn't hold on,"
Chicago coach Ron Meyer said. "That score at the end of the half
was a big swing."
Chicago drove inside the Xtreme's 15-yard line four times in the
game, but ended up settling for two field goals by Andy Crosland,
with Kevin McDougal throwing interceptions on the final two
possessions. Crosland also kicked a 40-yard field goal with 14:22
to play, cutting Chicago's deficit to 20-16.
The Enforcers were forced to punt after three plays on their
next possession, and the Xtreme then put the game away when
McCullough ran 44 yards for a touchdown with seven minutes
remaining.
Chicago's John Avery, the XFL's leading rusher, was held to 59
yards on 14 carries. McDougal completed 15 of 31 passes for 228
yards, and was intercepted three times.
Maddox completed 18 of 24 passes for 171 yards, and Jose Cortez
kicked field goals of 31 and 48 yards for the Xtreme.
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