Defenders Defense Comes Up Big Against St. Louis To Remain Undefeated (3-5-23)
By: Darrell Owens
Headline Photo Credit: Darrell Owens-LMS Network
WASHINGTON DC-The third week of the 2023 XFL finished up this past week. The first game of the week was last Thursday. The Seattle Sea Dragons defeated Las Vegas Vipers 30-26 to grab their first win of the year. The Arlington Renegades took down the Orlando Guardians 10-9 at home. The Houston Roughnecks defeated the San Antonio Brahmas 22-13 to stay undefeated. Lastly, the DC Defenders took on the St. Louis Battlehawks in Washington DC in the Battle of the Undefeated.
Photo Credit: Darrell Owens-LMS Network
Early in the First Quarter, DC would strike first on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Ta’amu to Tight End Ethan Wolf. The Ta’amu finds with Wolf on a shovel pass for a 2-point conversion and the Defenders were up 8-0. On the Battlehawks’ next possession, QB AJ McCarron would throw a pick-six to Defenders DB Mike Joseph, his 2nd of the season. Giving the Defenders an early 14-0 lead. The Battlehawks would bounce back with an impressive drive that would be capped off with an 8-yard touchdown pass from McCarron to RB Brian Hill making it a 14-8 after a Darius Shepherd 2-point conversion. With 18 seconds left in the half, the Battlehawks would tie this game up with a Hakeem Butler 1-yard touchdown reception and would go into halftime with a 14-14 score.
Photo Credit: Darrell Owens-LMS Network
After an early second-half Matthew McCrane field goal, DC would take a 17-14 lead in the 3rd quarter. On the next St. Louis possession, McCarron would find his tight end, Jake Sutherland on a 23-yard touchdown pass giving the Battlehawks the lead for the first time 20-17. With 3:08 left in the 3rd quarter, DC would reclaim the lead 25-20 on a 12-play, 82-yard drive finished off by QB Jordan Ta’amu with a 2-yard touchdown run and a Lucky Jackson 2-point conversion catch from Ta’amu.
Photo Credit: Darrell Owens-LMS Network
After another McCrane field goal, DC extended their lead 28-20 early in the 4th quarter, but the Defenders would put this game away on a 4-yard D’Eriq King passes to Chris Blair for a touchdown and a 34-20 lead. Despite a late score from the Battlehawks with 22 seconds left in the game, the DC Defenders would win this one 34-28 to remain undefeated. The Defenders defense had four takeaways that push DC to victory.
The DC Defenders will be at home to take on the winless Las Vegas Vipers (0-3) on Sunday, March 12th at 7 pm from Audi Field.
