DEFENDERS WEEK 7: SHIELDS BACK UP

- Tyler Yasembousky, Contributor

The DC Defenders have already lost to Brahmas once this season. In fact, this is the only win San Antonio has in 2025.. So this is an important game for the Defenders. That might sound crazy at 4-2, but DC has to stay strong through the second half of the season. 

Jordan Ta’amu completed nine of 11 pass attempts in the first quarter, resulting in 90 yards of offense and a 6-0 lead. Ta'amu hit tight end briley Moore-McKinney for an 18-yard catch that set up his team just outside the red zone. Two plays later, they connected again for a 19-yard gain to get inside the 3-yard line. 

Deon Jackson finished the drive off with a 3-yard touchdown run to give the Defenders a six-point lead. Jackson had a crucial 1-yard rush earlier in the drive when the Defenders elected to keep their offense on the field on a fourth-and-1 from the Brahmas 41-yard line. 

6-0 DC  

The Brahmas' newly acquired quarterback, Kevin Hogan showed his worth on Friday, throwing his first touchdown of the season to make it a six all tie. It was a 7-yard pass to tight-end Alize Mack to finish off a 10-play, 62-yard drive. Mack ran an under route, while fellow tight-end Steven Stilianos ran an over route and drew the attention of multiple defenders, helping him break open. Hogan hit him right on the numbers. 

Receiver Justin Smith had two catches for 31 yards on the Brahmas' touchdown drive. On a second-and-11 from the Brahmas 37-yard line, he ran a crossing route and got two steps on his defender. Hogan hit him in stride for a 21-yard gain and a crucial first down that flipped the field position.

On the kickoff following their opening touchdown, the Brahmas' special teams unit got the ball right back for their offense, forcing a fumble, which led to a red zone opportunity and three points.

Jordan Mosley forced Defenders kick returner Chris Rowland to fumble, and Koby Jones scooped it up and returned it to the 12-yard line. The Brahmas offense moved the ball inside the 1-yard line but couldn't break the plane. The Defenders defense made the most of a tough situation, holding the Brahmas to a field goal. 

Tristan Vizcaino knocked through a chip shot from 21 yards out to put San Antonio up, 9-6 San Antonio

The Brahams would then add another FG.

Tristan Vizcaino’s 54-yard field goal banged off the left upright and went in. The power was certainly there, and he had just enough accuracy to give the Brahmas a touchdown advantage.

Vizcaino's kick came at the end of a solid 8-play drive. 

Jashaun Corbin started the drive with a 24-yard rush. Then, on a third-and-9 from the Brahmas' 49-yard line, Kevin Hogan showed off his legs with a 10-yard first-down run into positive territory. An 8-yard connection between Hogan and Steven Stilianos was enough to get into Vizcaino's range.

12-6 San Antonio 

DC defensive Would finally come up huge and Disaster strikes for Brahmas

The Defenders had kicked it back to the Brahmas with 35 seconds left after their offense failed to complete a two-minute drill before halftime. Instead of taking a 12-6 lead into the break, San Antonio was aggressive and tried to pad its advantage. 

That backfired, as Kevin Hogan dropped back and ran into his own offensive lineman, jarring the ball loose. Defenders linebacker Anthony Hines jumped on it and returned the fumble 35 yards for a game-tying touchdown. 

The score is 12-12 going into halftime. 

The Brahmas ceded their momentum before halftime, but they just got it back after a dominant drive to open the third quarter — going 69 yards in 11 plays and capping the drive with a 2-yard touchdown connection between Kevin Hogan and Steven Stilianos for an 18-12 lead. 

Hogan completed three other passes on the drive, including a 14-yard pass on fourth-and-2 to keep the drive alive. Jashaun Corbin ripped off a 13-yard run, bowling over defenders to set up a first-and-goal. Hogan scrambled for seven yards, and then found Stilianos running a drag route on his second touchdown throw of the night.

18-12 San Antonio 

DC takes their first lead of the game 

The Defenders took their first lead of Friday's game after stellar plays from their special teams and offense. Jaydon Mickens returned a Brahmas punt 30 yards, setting up the Defenders offense up at the 28-yard line in positive territory. Three plays later, Jordan Ta’amu connected with Chris Powell for a 29-yard touchdown. 

On that scoring play, Chris Powell ran a 9-route to clear out the defense while Powell ran a post underneath Rowland and got wide open. Ta'amu worked through his progressions and found Powell, who ran untouched into the end zone to make it 19-18. 

Jordan Ta'amu shows why he's the UFL's passing TDs leader on their next drive. Ta’amu’s arm talent has been a catalyst behind his UFL-leading 13 touchdown passes, and he showed that again, hitting Braylon Sanders for a 76-yard touchdown to give the Defenders a 25-18 lead. 

On first-and-10 from DC's 24-yard line, Sanders ran a go-route and Ta'amu dropped the ball perfectly into the breadbasket. Sanders had gained a step on his defender and Ta'amu's pass allowed him to breakaway for one of the longest scores of the season.

25 - 18 DC 

But San Antonio won't go away. The Brahmas answered the Defenders' highlight play with one of their own — a 57-yard rushing score to make it 25-24. Jashaun Corbin took the handoff from Kevin Hogan and burst through a hole off the right tackle all the way to the end zone. After finding the gap, none of the defenders stood a chance at catching him

25-24 DC 

On fourth-and-2 from the Brahmas' 4-yard line, the Defenders elected to keep their offense on the field. Guard Gunnar Britton lined up as an eligible receiver, as DC showed a heavy formation with all 11 personnel in the box. 

The Brahmas assumed that meant they'd run the ball, so when Jordan Ta'amu sold the handoff, all of their defenders bought it, and Britton easily slipped behind the defense. 

That left an easy pitch and a seamless catch for a player that hasn't had much experience hauling in passes. That didn't matter, though, as the Defenders executed the trick play to perfection and grabbed the game's final lead.

After conceding a trick-play touchdown to go down by eight, the Brahmas found themselves facing a must-have third-and-31 with 1:22 remaining. It seemed like an impossible scenario, but Kevin Hogan hit Marquez Stevenson just before the first down marker and the receiver fought his way past the sticks. 

As Stevenson battled for additional yards with CB Kiondre Thomas draped all over his back, he lost control of the ball and fumbled it. Defenders CB Isaiah Johnson dove on the ball, and his recovery sealed the game for DC.

FINAL: 32-24 DC 

This Friday night clash had it all: a touchdown-bomb, breakaway run, scoop-and-score and a big-man touchdown. 

The Defenders now sit atop the XFL Conference after a statement road win 

This was Jordan’s best game of the season, he’s proving once again why he’s the front runner for MVP. 

The DC defense still has me a little worried but Jordan has proven that he can keep this team in almost any game. 

Next week we finally get a home game again. Something DC hasn’t had since Easter… Up next, a huge game against the Arlington Renegades. Keep it here on BCP+ for all your UFL coverage.