Xtreme’s Four-Game Surge Ends

The Xtreme lost to the Memphis Maniax for the second this season, victimized by Jim Druckenmiller’s three touchdown passes in a 27-12 defeat Sunday before 21,191 at Memphis, Tenn.

The Western Division-leading Xtreme (6-3) had won four in a row following an 18-12 loss to Memphis (4-5) on Feb. 25.

Druckenmiller connected with Beau Morgan on a seven-yard scoring pass to give Memphis a 20-6 lead early in the third quarter, and put the game out of reach with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Daryl Hobbs with just over 10 minutes left.

The Xtreme’s Saladin McCullough scored on a 14-yard run late in the third quarter, and Jose Cortez made two field goals.

San Francisco 14, Las Vegas 9--Mike Pawlawski’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Terry Battle in the third quarter helped the Demons (5-4) secure a playoff spot in their victory over the Outlaws (4-5) before 17,656 at Las Vegas.

The winning pass followed a 49-yard interception return by Dwayne Harper and broke a 6-6 tie.

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Saturday night’s XFL game probably was the lowest-rated prime-time sports event in history, as preliminary ratings for the broadcast by NBC fell 9.5% from the previous week.

The Chicago Enforcers’ 23-18 victory over the New York/New Jersey Hitmen was watched by 1.9% of homes in the U.S.’s top 49 media markets, Nielsen Media Research Inc. said. Of homes with televisions turned on, 3% tuned in to NBC’s telecast.

When the XFL’s national ratings are released Tuesday, they likely won’t surpass the 1.6% who watched the Las Vegas Outlaws’ 34-12 victory over the Birmingham Thunderbolts on March 17.

That matchup set the low mark for sports events broadcast in prime time, drawing lower ratings than Game 3 of the 2000 Stanley Cup finals between the Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils, the previous lowest-rated.