Defenders Clinch Playoff Berth with Thrilling 33–30 Win Over Renegades

Washington, D.C-- With seconds remaining, Arlington was driving to tie or win the game. However, DeAndre Baker intercepted Luis Perez’s pass to seal the Defenders' 33–30 victory over the Arlington Renegades, completing a season sweep. The Defenders clinched a berth in the XFL Division Championship on June 8 with the win.

Renegades Took an Early Lead — Briefly

Placekicker Lucas Havrisik opened the scoring with a 30-yard field goal with 9:30 left in the first quarter, giving the Renegades a short-lived 3–0 lead. On the very next possession, the Defenders answered quickly. Deon Jackson broke free for a 57-yard touchdown run, followed by a successful 3-point conversion also by Jackson, to put D.C. ahead 9–3. The Defenders never trailed again and led by as many as 12 points throughout the game.

Top Two in Passing Yards Face Off

Heading into the Week 8 matchup, quarterbacks Jordan Ta’amu and Luis Perez ranked No. 1 and 2 in the UFL in passing yards. Ta’amu entered with 1,750 yards, while Perez had 1,455. On Sunday, Perez went 32-of-46 for 350 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Ta’amu completed 15-of-26 passes for 240 yards and 2 touchdowns, hauled in by wide receiver Cornell Powell.

In the post-game press conference, I asked Ta’amu about his chemistry with Powell and their growing connection on the field.

Trick Play Sparks the Crowd

The Defenders dialed up some trickery on 3rd-and-goal from the Renegades’ 9-yard line. Wide receiver Chris Rowland threw a touchdown pass to quarterback Jordan Ta’amu with 5:03 left in the second quarter that caught the defense off guard and energized the home crowd.

After the win, I spoke with interim head coach Shannon Harris and asked his thoughts on the gutsy call.

Efficient Ground Game Fuels D.C.

The Defenders racked up 135 rushing yards on the day. Deon Jackson led the way with 89 yards on 10 carries, including his 57-yard touchdown. Jordan Ta’amu contributed 21 rushing yards on 5 attempts, while Chris Rowland added 14 yards on 2 carries. Abram Smith chipped in 11 yards on 4 carries and scored a touchdown.

What’s Next

The 6–2 Defenders will head to Houston to take on the Roughnecks (3–5) on Sunday, May 25. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.