Week 7 of the UFL season continued on Saturday afternoon with the Louisville Kings (3-4) visiting Audi Field against the D.C. Defenders (5-2).
In the first quarter, Louisville had the ball on the 40-yard line. The offense moved the ball to the six-yard line, but quarterback Chandler Rogers lost the ball after getting sacked. Louisville would recover the ball on the 11-yard line. Kicker Tanner Brown missed a 35-yard field goal.
Late in the first quarter, D.C. moved the ball to the 22-yard line. Kicker Matt McCrane missed a 40-yard field goal. The game remained scoreless heading into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, Louisville quarterback Chandler threw three passes for 38 yards and rushed for two yards, leading the offense to the 30-yard line. Kicker Tanner Brown made a 48-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead that took 11 plays for 40 yards.
D.C. would respond. On the third play, quarterback Jordan Ta’amu threw an 81-yard touchdown pass to Javon Antonio. They attempted a two-point conversion and did not get it. The Defenders led the Kings 6-3 to conclude a three-play drive for 76 yards.
Later in the second quarter, D.C. quarterback Jordan Ta’amu threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Ty Scott for a 13-3 lead that took 12 plays for 75 yards. With under a minute left, Louisville quarterback Chander Rogers got creamed by Derick Roberson. A penalty was given to Roberson.
Louisville’s offense moved the ball to the nine-yard line, where quarterback Chandler Rogers threw a touchdown pass to Tarik Black. The Kings trailed the Defenders 13-10 at halftime, which took six plays for 66 yards.
Louisville got the ball to start the third quarter on the 40-yard line. On the fourth play, quarterback Chandler Rogers threw a 17-yard pass to Isaiah Winstead to the 42-yard line. Louisville moved the ball to the 23-yard line. On the next play, Chandler Rogers was sacked for a nine-yard loss to the 32-yard line. Kicker Tanner Brown made a 50-yard field goal, and the game was tied 13-13.
On the kickoff, D.C. returner Erik Ezukanma fumbled the ball, and Louisville recovered it on the 45-yard line. Four plays later, quarterback Chandler Rogers threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Tarik Black for a 20-13 lead that took four plays for 55 yards.
Late in the third quarter, Louisville quarterback Chandler Rogers completed a pass to Jalen Wydermyer. D.C. defensive end Bryce Thompson forced the ball out, and D.C. initially recovered it. However, a roughing the passer penalty on D.C. wiped out the play. The Kings led the Defenders 20-13 at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, D.C. got the ball on the 14-yard line. On the first play, Louisville defensive back Keaton Ellis picked off Jordan Ta’amu at the 22-yard line. Chandler Rogers threw a 21-yard pass to Lucky Jackson, and James Robinson scored a one-yard touchdown for a 27-13 lead.
With their backs against the wall, D.C. quarterback Jordan Ta’amu threw three passes for 51 yards to the eight-yard line. Four plays later, Ta’amu’s pass was intercepted by Cameron Dantzler in the endzone. Louisville’s offense moved the ball to the 31-yard line before kicker Tanner Brown made a 49-yard field goal for a 30-13 lead.
Louisville’s defense would get one more turnover that would end the game. Louisville snapped D.C.’s five-game winning streak with a 30-13 win to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Louisville’s offense had 323 yards (201 passing yards, 145 rushing yards), 21 first downs, 3 for 4 in the redzone, and the team was penalized six times. Quarterback Chandler Rogers completed 17 of 26 passes (65.4%) for 201 yards, two touchdowns, and three carries for 11 yards. Running back Ian Wheeler had eight carries for 64 yards, while James Robinson had 13 carries for 58 yards and one rushing touchdown.
Wide receiver Isaiah Winstead made four catches for 62 yards, while Tarik Black made five catches for 49 yards and two touchdowns. The defense made 57 tackles, two tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
D.C.’s offense had 414 yards (353 passing yards, 89 rushing yards), 17 first downs, 0 for 1 in the redzone, and the team was penalized nine times. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu completed 18 of 33 passes (54.5%) for 353 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and four carries for 11 yards. Running back Deon Jackson had 11 carries for 36 yards.
Wide receiver Cornell Powell made four catches for 109 yards, while Javon Antonio made one catch for 81 yards and one touchdown, and Ty Scott made five catches for 78 yards and one touchdown. The defense made 63 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble.
The two teams will meet in a rematch next Saturday at 12 pm on ABC.
