The D.C. Defenders (5-1) hosted the Dallas Renegades (3-3) on Saturday afternoon at Audi Field. Since losing in Week 1, the Defenders have won four straight games, while the Renegades have gone backwards, losing their last two after starting the season 3-0. The Defenders took command of this game in the first half and never looked back.
In the first quarter, Dallas moved the ball to the 29-yard line before the drive stalled. Kicker Colton Theaker attempted a 47-yard field goal, but it was no good. On the second play, D.C. quarterback Jordan Ta’amu threw a short pass to Briley Moore for 51 yards to the eight-yard line.
Two plays later, Ta’amu threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Erik Ezukanma for a 7-0 lead that took four plays for 63 yards. D.C.’s defense had a forced fumble in the first quarter. The Defenders led the Renegades 7-0 heading into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, D.C.’s offense moved the ball to the 13-yard line. On the next play, Jordan Ta’amu threw a touchdown pass to Mason Fairchild for a 14-0 lead. The drive went 12 plays for 58 yards. Two plays later, D.C. defensive back DeAndre Baker picked off Austin Reed’s pass to the 18-yard line. D.C.’s offense made quick work. On the third play, Jordan Ta’amu threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Cornell Powell for a 21-0 lead that took three plays for 18 yards.
Late in the second half, D.C. kicker Matt McCrane made a 56-yard field goal for a 24-0 lead. With two seconds left, Dallas kicker Colton Theaker attempted a 52-yard field goal, but did not get it. The Defenders led the Renegades 24-0 at halftime.
In the third quarter, D.C. moved the ball to the 27-yard line. Kicker Matt McCrane attempted a 45-yard field goal, but it was no good. Dallas quarterback Austin Reed threw a 53-yard pass to Deontay Burnett to the 13-yard line. Two plays later, Austin Reed was sacked by Casey Rogers to the 14-yard line. On the next play, Austin Reed threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Vaughns. They attempted a two-point conversion, but did not get it. The Renegades trailed the Defenders 24-6 to conclude a four-play drive for 66 yards.
Late in the third quarter, D.C.’s offense moved the ball to the one-yard line until Dallas defensive back Qwynnterrio Cole intercepted it in the endzone to end the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Dallas moved the ball to the 10-yard line. Dallas was unable to get into the endzone. D.C.’s offense continued to kill the clock, and Dallas had no answers. The Defenders went on to win in their fifth straight game by the final score of 24-6 over the Renegades. The Renegades have now lost three straight games.
D.C.’s offense had 283 yards (227 passing yards, 81 rushing yards), 18 first downs, 3 for 4 in the redzone, and the team was penalized four times. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu completed 20 of 28 passes (71.4%) for 227 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and six carries for 16 yards. Running back Abram Smith had eight carries for 26 yards.
Tight end Briley Moore made three catches for 59 yards, while Cornell Powell made three catches for 44 yards and one touchdown. Mason Fairchild made two catches for 18 yards and one touchdown, and Erik Ezukanma made two catches for 12 yards and one touchdown. The defense made 51 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, one pass breakup, and two forced fumbles.
Dallas had 296 yards on offense (258 passing yards, 50 rushing yards), 14 first downs, 1 for 2 in the redzone, and the team was penalized five times. Quarterback Austin Reed completed 22 of 41 passes (53.7%) for 258 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Running back Ellis Merriweather had nine carries for 17 yards, while backup quarterback Luke Lehnen had two carries for 23 yards.
Wide receiver Deontay Burnett made four catches for 82 yards, while Tyler Vaughns made five catches for 39 yards and one touchdown. The defense made 68 tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception, two pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
Next Saturday, the D.C. Defenders host the Louisville Kings at 1:30 pm on Fox, followed by the Dallas Renegades visiting the Birmingham Stallions at 8 pm on ESPN.
