The Louisville Kings (4-4) hosted the D.C. Defenders (5-3) on Saturday afternoon from Lynn Family Stadium. The Defenders were looking to become the second team to clinch a playoff spot, while the Kings needed the win to stay alive in the playoff hunt. The game was delayed for half an hour due to lightning in the area.
In the first quarter, The Defenders started the drive on the 41-yard line. On the first play of the game, D.C. quarterback Jordan Ta’amu threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Ty Scott for a 7-0 lead. On the kickoff, Louisville kick returner Tyler Hudson returned the kickoff for a 92-yard touchdown, and the game was tied 7-7.
D.C. had the ball on the 29-yard line. They moved the ball to the 47-yard line before Jordan Ta’amu’s pass was intercepted by Corey Mayfield Jr. A penalty on D.C. placed the ball on the 14-yard line. Louisville went three-and-out, and kicker Tanner Brown made a 39-yard field goal to give the Kings a 10-7 lead.
On the next D.C. drive, Louisville defensive back Mekhi Garner picked off Ta’amu to the five-yard line. Louisville’s offense went three-and-out, and kicker Tanner Brown made a 28-yard field goal for a 13-7 lead. On the next drive for D.C., Jordan Ta’amu would suffer a right knee injury and was out for the rest of the game.
Spencer Sanders was the new quarterback for D.C. Ta’amu finished the afternoon completing 2 of 4 passes (50%) for 62 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and two carries for 13 yards. Late in the first quarter, D.C. defensive back Bryce Thompson picked off Chandler Rogers at the 11-yard line. D.C. had the ball on the nine-yard line to begin the second quarter, trailing the Kings 13-7.
In the second quarter, D.C. made it to the 48-yard line before punting the ball. On the third play for Louisville, quarterback Chandler Rogers threw a 45-yard pass to Isaiah Winstead to the 45-yard line. They would gain an additional three yards before kicker Tanner Brown made a 60-yard field goal for a 17-7 lead. In the UFL, field goals made from 60 or more yards are worth four points.
Later, Louisville’s defense recovered a Deon Jackson fumble, and they gave it right back when Derick Roberson hit Chandler Rogers just as he was throwing the football, and D.C. recovered it on the 44-yard line. The Defenders moved the ball to the 32-yard line before kicker Matt McCrane made a 51-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 17-10.
D.C.’s defense forced a three-and-out, and the Defenders got the ball on the 37-yard line. D.C. quarterback Spencer Sanders led the offense to the 21-yard line. On the next play, D.C. running back Abram Smith bulldozed through the defense to score a 21-yard touchdown. The game was tied 17-17 at halftime to conclude a six-play drive for 63 yards.
In the third quarter, Louisville kicker Tanner Brown made a 35-yard field goal to give the Kings a 20-17 lead. D.C. quarterback Spencer Sanders rushed for two yards and completed two passes for 30 yards to the 38-yard line. Three plays later, D.C. running back Xazavian Valladay rushed up the middle for a 13-yard touchdown. The Defenders took a 24-20 lead to conclude a seven-play drive for 71 yards.
Louisville had the ball for the rest of the third quarter. On the final play of the third quarter, quarterback Chandler Rogers threw an 11-yard pass to Tarik Black to the 24-yard line. The Kings trailed the Defenders 24-20 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Louisville running back James Robinson took over with four carries for 21 yards, including rushing up the middle for a one-yard touchdown. Kicker Tanner Brown’s extra point was blocked. The Kings took a 26-24 lead to conclude a 16-play drive for 81 yards.
Later, Louisville had the ball on the 35-yard line. Four plays later, quarterback Chandler Rogers threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Winstead for a 33-24 lead to conclude a four-play drive for 35 yards.
Louisville’s defense continued to cause problems for D.C. The Defenders had the ball on the 44-yard line when linebacker Steele Chambers picked off Spencer Sanders. Sanders had both feet in bounds and had control of the ball before going out of bounds.
Late in the game, D.C. running back Deon Jackson scored a three-yard touchdown to conclude an eight-play drive for 52 yards. The Defenders went for a three-point conversion to tie the game, but Spencer Sanders pass was incomplete.
It was now 33-30. D.C. went for a 4th and 12 play, but Louisville’s defense pressured Sanders to force an incomplete pass, and the game was over. The Kings defeated the Defenders 33-30 for their second straight win, and the Defenders have now lost two straight games.
Louisville’s offense had 251 yards (143 passing yards, 134 rushing yards), 15 first downs, 1 for 5 in the redzone, and the team was penalized six times. Quarterback Chandler Rogers completed 11 of 20 passes (55%) for 143 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and six carries for 24 yards. Running back James Robinson had 20 carries for 59 yards and one rushing touchdown.
Wide receiver Isaiah Winstead made five catches for 92 yards and one touchdown, while Tarik Black made three catches for 31 yards. The defense made 54 tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks, three interceptions, four pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
D.C.’s offense had 337 yards (145 passing yards, 218 rushing yards), 18 first downs, 2 for 2 in the redzone, and the team was penalized nine times. Quarterback Spencer Sanders completed 7 of 15 passes (46.7%) for 83 yards, one interception, and five carries for 27 yards. Running back Xazavian Valladay had 13 carries for 107 yards and one rushing touchdown, while Abram Smith had eight carries for 56 yards and one rushing touchdown, and Deon Jackson had six carries for 15 yards and one rushing touchdown.
Wide receiver Erik Ezukanma had four catches for 55 yards, while Ty Scott made one catch for 41 yards and one touchdown. The defense made 60 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception, nine pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Next Friday, the D.C. Defenders visit the Orlando Storm at 8 pm on Fox, while the Louisville Kings host the Dallas Renegades on Sunday at 4 pm on Fox.
