DEFENDERS SHOW OUT IN 2-0 START

DC was coming off a huge victory in week one against the defending UFL champs, the Birmingham Stallions. Many DC fans were wondering if this would be a classic letdown situation. Beating a team as an underdog just to lose the next game as the favorites happens all too often in football. Thankfully for the defenders, that was not the case. The Defenders would remain unbeaten in a hard-hitting defensive game.

 

The Showboats came up with some big plays early, and they got some help from a few early penalties by the Defenders including a pass interference call. Memphis was stopped in their tracks just as they were charging downfield thanks to a big Defenders interception by Kiondre Thomas! 

 

Unfortunately DC couldn’t do much with it. Memphis got the ball back quickly and wasted no time moving the chains and ending the stalemate to close out the first quarter 3-0.

 

After tying the game 3-3 in the middle of the second quarter, the Defenders got a lucky bounce in the late stages of the first half. They punted the ball to the Showboats with 1:32 remaining, but returner Isiah Hennie muffed the ball. The Defenders were able to get the recovery, giving them possession at the Showboats 41-yard line. 

 

The Defenders made it to the 16-yard line, but unfortunately an 8-yard sack ended any hopes of them scoring a touchdown before halftime. Still, they kicked a field goal that gave them a 6-3 lead going into break. 

 

Starting the third quarter, The Defenders drove down the field again, getting down to the showboats 28-yard line before almost getting in huge trouble with a turnover. Jordan Ta’amu’s pass on first-and-10 was nearly intercepted, with Showboats defensive back Lance Boykin making an incredible grab in front of the goal line. However, he wasn't able to keep his feet inbounds, allowing the Defenders to keep the ball and kick a field goal. The lead was now 9-3.

 

Not to go quietly, Memphis started their comeback. The Showbots first got three points back, making it a 9-6 game. DC looked to be in a good spot to take a six-point lead again early in the fourth quarter, but a rare miss by K Matt McCrane kept it to a one field goal game.

 

Memphis took advantage of the favorable field position, only needing a few plays to get to DC's 14-yard line. E.J Perry then scrambled for a touchdown. The score gave the Showboats a 12-9 lead with 11:47 remaining in the fourth. 

 

The Defenders responded to the Showboats first touchdown drive of the game by doing the same thing. They quickly made their way down the field, only needing six plays to get to the Showboats 3-yard line. Facing a 3rd-and-1, Jordan Ta’amu made a jump pass to Ben Bresnahan for a touchdown. DC's two-point conversion was successful, using some trickery to take a 17-12 lead with 8:21 remaining.

 

Memphis went on a long drive, needing 12 plays and almost seven minutes to move the ball 54 yards and get to DC's 25-yard line. Facing a 4th-and-13 with 1:52 remaining, the Showboats opted to kick a field goal in hopes of cutting the lead to two and getting the ball back later. But the Defenders' field goal block unit did their job, with Devonnsha Maxwell getting a hand on the ball.

 

The Defenders were nearly able to run the clock out after that, punting the ball back to the Showboats with just seconds remaining. Memphis needed to play the lateral game on its own side of the field, falling well short of the end zone on the game's final play. 

 

With 13 thousand people in attendance, the Defenders were able to get another win at home. 

 

Going 2-0 on the season and next week will be their first away game.