DC DEFENDERS WEEK 4 RECAP: OH THUNDER ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT'S RAINING

When you’re about to play an undefeated team like the Birmingham Stallions, you are gonna need a great game plan and a little bit of luck. What you do not need is bad weather and a rain delay to kill any momentum you had already built up to that point. Could The Defenders overcome the bad weather and hand The Stallions their first loss?

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Both teams fumbled on their first possession of the game, but then DC put together a nine-play touchdown drive, capped off by Ta'amu hitting WR Chris Rowland in the end zone for a 9 yard touchdown. DC blocked Birmingham's punt, giving DC the ball in opposing territory. Unfortunately, The Defenders later turned the ball over on downs.

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DC couldn’t keep the momentum going because The Stallions would have a HUGE next possession. Stallions QB Matt Corral hit Amari Rodgers in a tight window, and then the stud receiver spun out of a tackle and exploded down the field for a 50-yard touchdown.

 

The game went into weather delay due to lightning with 1:55 remaining in the first half. It resumed at roughly 8:50 p.m. in what was a 90-minute delay. When the game finally got underway again, DC made their first big mistake of the game. 

DC lined up to punt, but an errant snap resulted in a Birmingham safety. The Stallions then got a field goal as the first half expired. The score was now 11-6 Birmingham.

 

DC finally got back on the board when DC QB Ta’amu hit WR Harmon over middle, and he evaded a tackle and went into the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown !  DC then took the lead when kicker Matthew McCrane made a 23-yard field goal. (Stud) The score is now 14-12 DC. 

 

DC was unfortunately gonna find out the hard way about the old saying “You live by the sword you die by the sword” 

This was after two weeks of back to back wins thanks to last second heroics from Matthew McCrane.  This time around DC would find themselves being the ones watching from the sidelines hoping a kick didn’t go in. Unfortunately for The Defenders, it did. 

 

The Stallions kept their undefeated season alive resulting in a 20-18 final score After a 21-point second half from both teams The Stallions had to rely on Ramiz Ahmed to hit the 46-yard winner with four tics left on the clock. The Defenders finished the game 251 yard of total offense with just 161 yards passing but Ta’amu had a 146 QB rating. Meanwhile The Stallions tallied 356 yards of total offense with an efficient 19-29 240-yards, and a 146.4 QB rating for matt Corral 

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Great day for both QBs who happen to know each other very well . Both Jordan Ta’amu and Stallions quarterback Matt Corral attended Ole Miss together.

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The Defenders are back in action next Sunday at home in Audi Field.  Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. ET, with the game set to be broadcast on FOX.