The Orlando Storm (8-2) and the D.C. Defenders (5-5) met for the third consecutive week on Sunday afternoon from Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida, for the UFL Semi-Final matchup with a trip to the United Bowl on the line.
In the first quarter, D.C. got the ball to start the game on the 42-yard line. On the fifth play, quarterback Jason Bean threw a 26-yard pass to Keke Coutee to the 13-yard line. They continued to move the ball to the three-yard line, where running back Deon Jackson scored the touchdown to give the Defenders a 7-0 lead. The drive took 11 plays for 58 yards.
Orlando started its first drive on the 45-yard line after returner Jashaun Corbin ran for 43 yards. Quarterback Jack Plummer threw a short pass to Chris Rowland for 10 yards, plus a roughing the passer penalty on D.C., which moved the ball to the 30-yard line. The drive stalled, and kicker Michael Lantz made a 47-yard field goal. The Storm trailed the Defenders 7-3.
Late in the first quarter, D.C. quarterback Jason Bean threw a 21-yard pass to Keke Coutee, and running back Abram Smith rushed for 26 yards to the three-yard line. On the next play, Smith took it in for the touchdown, extending D.C.’s lead to 14-3. The drive went eight plays for 65 yards.
Orlando had the ball on the 37-yard line. Three plays later, Jack Plummer threw a 45-yard pass to K.J. Hamler to the 14-yard line. The Storm trailed the Defenders 14-3 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Orlando’s drive stalled, and kicker Michael Lantz made a 32-yard field goal. The Storm trailed the Defenders 14-6. Late in the second quarter, D.C. quarterback Jason Bean threw a touchdown pass to Cornell Powell, but a penalty wiped away six points. Kicker Matt McCrane attempted a 28-yard field goal, but he missed it. The Defenders led the Storm 14-6 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Orlando quarterback Jack Plummer’s pass was intercepted by Bryce Thompson at the 29-yard line. The Defenders moved the ball to the five-yard line, where kicker Matt McCrane made a 23-yard field goal for a 17-6 lead.
Orlando had the ball on the 21-yard line. On the fifth play, Jack Plummer threw a touchdown pass to Jerome Kapp, but D.C. challenged the play for holding on Orlando, and they won the challenge, taking away six points. Orlando would end up punting the ball back to D.C.
D.C. had the ball on the 36-yard line. Quarterback Jason Bean was injured after rushing for six yards and landed on his left shoulder. Spencer Sanders filled in at quarterback. On the fifth play, Sanders’s pass intended for Briley Moore was picked off by Kana’i Mauga for a pick-six 59-yard touchdown. The Storm trailed the Defenders 17-13.
D.C. had the ball on the 25-yard line. On the second play, running back Xazavian Valladay rushed for 18 yards to the 49-yard line. Five plays later, Jason Bean threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Briley Moore for a 24-13 lead to cap off a seven-play drive for 75 yards. Orlando had the ball on the 24-yard line to begin the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Jack Plummer’s pass was intercepted by Derick Roberson. The replay looked at the play and determined that the ball hit the ground, and it was ruled an incomplete pass. Orlando moved the ball to the five-yard line, where kicker Michael Lantz made a 23-yard field goal. The Storm trailed the Defenders 24-16.
D.C. had the ball on the 40-yard line. They moved the ball to the 43-yard line, where kicker Matt McCrane made a 61-yard field goal for a 28-16 lead. In the UFL, field goals for 60 yards or more are worth four points.
Orlando had the ball on the 21-yard line. Jack Plummer threw three passes for 39 yards to the 40-yard line. On the next play, Plummer threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Chris Rowland. They attempted a three-point conversion but did not get it. The Storm trailed the Defenders 28-22 to conclude a four-play drive for 79 yards.
D.C. had the ball on the eight-yard line. They were able to move the ball and run out the clock to end the game. The Defenders defeated the Storm 28-22 to advance to the United Bowl, where they will try to win their second straight championship.
D.C.’s offense had 405 yards (233 passing yards, 172 rushing yards), 24 first downs, 2 for 4 in the redzone, and the team was penalized eight times. Quarterback Jason Bean completed 18 of 32 passes (56.3%) for 233 yards, one touchdown, and five carries for 40 yards. Running back Abram Smith had 11 carries for 57 yards and one rushing touchdown, while Deon Jackson had 12 carries for 33 yards and one rushing touchdown.
Wide receiver Keke Coutee made four catches for 58 yards, while Briley Moore made four catches for 55 yards and one touchdown. The defense made 40 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, and four pass breakups.
Orlando’s offense had 273 yards (226 passing yards, 56 rushing yards), 16 first downs, 0 for 3 in the redzone, and the team was penalized four times. Quarterback Jack Plummer completed 15 of 28 passes (53.6%) for 226 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and two carries for 15 yards. Running back Jashaun Corbin had five carries for 24 yards.
Wide receiver Chris Rowland made six catches for 82 yards and one touchdown, while K.J. Hamler made four catches for 82 yards. The defense made 61 tackles, six tackles for loss, one interception, and four pass breakups.
The 2026 UFL United Bowl will be next Saturday at 3 pm on ABC.
