The D.C. Defenders (3-1) hosted the St. Louis Battlehawks (2-2) on Saturday afternoon at Audi Field in their second meeting of the season. They met back in Week 1, where the Battlehawks won 16-10.
In the first quarter, St. Louis moved the ball to the 33-yard line before kicker Tucker McCann made a 51-yard field goal to put the Battlehawks up 3-0. Later, D.C.’s offense moved the ball to the 14-yard line. On the next play, quarterback Jordan Ta’amu threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Keke Coutee to give the Defenders a 7-3 lead heading into the second quarter. The drive went 11 plays for 72 yards.
In the second quarter, St. Louis quarterback Harrison Frost threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Hakeem Butler. Kicker Tucker McCann missed the extra point, and the Battlehawks led the Defenders 9-7. Later, D.C. kicker Matt McCrane made a 56-yard field goal for a 10- 9 lead.
Late in the second quarter, D.C.’s offense went on a 10-play drive for 65 yards that resulted in quarterback Jordan Ta’amu throwing a three-yard touchdown pass to Ty Scott for a 17-9 lead. With one second left, St. Louis kicker Tanner McCann made a 26-yard field goal, and the Battlehawks trailed the Defenders 17-12 at halftime.
In the third quarter, D.C. kicker Matt McCrane made a 43-yard field goal to extend D.C.’s lead to 20-12. Later, D.C.’s defense went to work when Devonnsha Maxwell sacked Harrison Frost in the end zone for a safety. The Defenders led the Battlehawks 22-12 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, D.C. kicker Matt McCrane made his third field goal of the afternoon for 24 yards to make 25-12. On the next drive, St. Louis went on a five-play drive for 65 yards that resulted in running back Kevon Latulas scoring a seven-yard touchdown. The Battlehawks trailed the Defenders 25-19.
For the rest of the fourth quarter, D.C. kicker Matthew McCrane made a 39-yard field goal, and St. Louis kicker Tucker McCann made a 28-yard field goal. The Defenders led the Battlehawks 28-22. With under a minute left, D.C. put the game away when Sam Kidd intercepted Harrison Frost. The Defenders got their revenge by defeating the Battlehawks 28-22.
D.C.’s offense had 306 yards (204 passing yards, 111 rushing yards), 21 first downs, 2 for 4 in the redzone, and the team was penalized eight games. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu completed 22 of 36 passes (61.1%) for 204 yards, two touchdowns, and 11 carries for 61 yards.
Running back Deon Jackson had seven carries for 20 yards. Wide receiver Cornell Powell made seven catches for 85 yards, while Keke Coutee made two catches for 27 yards and one touchdown. Kicker Matt McCrane made 4 of 4 field goals, with a long of 56 yards. The defense made 35 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, and five pass breakups.
St. Louis had 261 yards (144 passing yards, 139 rushing yards), 14 first downs, 1 for 3 in the redzone, and the team was penalized nine times. Quarterback Harrison Frost completed 6 of 21 passes (28.6%) for 144 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and two carries for 23 yards.
Running back Jarveon Howard had eight carries for 85 yards, while Kevon Latulas had three carries for 10 yards and one rushing touchdown. Wide receiver Hakeem Butler made two catches for 109 yards and one touchdown, while Blake Jackson made two catches for 15 yards.
Kicker Tanner McCann made 3 of 3 field goals with a long of 51 yards. The defense made 66 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, and three pass breakups.
Next Friday, the D.C. Defenders visit the Birmingham Stallions at 8 pm on Fox, while the St. Louis Battlehawks visit the Orlando Storm on Saturday at 7 pm on ESPN.
