Former Slippery Rock University wide receiver and current Vegas Viper Cinque Sweeting listens to a question during a press conference following last Sunday's loss to the D.C. Defenders. Sweeting had two touchdowns in the contest. Brendan Howe/Butler Eagle

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Having just scored his third touchdown as a professional last Sunday night against the D.C. Defenders, Cinque Sweeting crossed his arms and stood in front of a spirited opponents crowd.

Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.

Streaks of yellow began whizzing by from a section of fans that were as busy constructing a winding snake out of empty beer cups as they were taking in the action.

“I actually grabbed one of the lemons,” Sweeting said outside his team’s locker room after the game. “I was supposed to take it as a souvenir, but I think I left it. The D.C. fans are something else. We knew it was going to be a rowdy game ... I feed off that energy. The lemons and stuff didn’t faze me.”

With the XFL’s Vegas Vipers, Sweeting is getting his introduction to the next level of football after being part of a three-headed monster at Slippery Rock University.

He’s adjusting quite well.