Arlington Renegades vs. DC Defenders Week 8 - pfnewsroom.com
UFL Week 8 concluded with a Sunday matinee contest with a playoff spot on the line. The (3-4) Arlington Renegades took on the (5-2) D.C. Defenders at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
What was up for grabs was a playoff bid for the Defenders, but the Renegades were here to prove they would not be eliminated on this day.
UFL Week 8- 1st Quarter
The Renegades punched first as kicker Lucas Havrisik capped off a 5:30 opening drive with a field goal, and Arlington led DC, 3-0.
The Defenders look more like the offenders on their opening possession as running back Deon Jackson ran with bad intentions for a 57-yard touchdown and a 6-3 lead.
After a defensive foul on Arlington, DC capitalized on their three-point try to give DC a 9-3 lead at the end of one quarter of play.
UFL Week 8- 2nd Quarter
The Defenders continued to go on offense, as running back Abram Smith ran to the right side for a 9-yard touchdown. However, a failed two-point attempt still increased the lead to 15-3.
The Renegades conquered their demons on the next drive with a radioactive 23-yard TD pass from quarterback Luis Perez to receiver Tyler Vaughns, and a successful two-point try had DC still defending its lead, 15-11.
Moments later, the Defenders played more offense, as receiver Chris Roland caught a nine-yard TD pass from quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, but another missed two-point try increased the lead to 21-11.
The Renegades kept clawing back, making it hard for DC to keep defending. Perez threw another touchdown pass from five yards to Vaughns, and the missed two-point try made it 21-17 Defenders at halftime.
UFL Week 8- 3rd Quarter
The Defenders needed to come out of halftime defending their home turf if they wanted to clinch a spot in the postseason. Ta’amu threw another touchdown pass to Cornell Powell for four yards, and a failed one-point try pushed the Defenders’ lead to 27-17 with 10:57 left in the third.
But those pesky Renegades returned as Havrisik booted another field goal from 54 yards to make it a one-score game at 27-20 with 6:46 left in the quarter. Havrisik made another field goal to make it 27-23, DC heading into the fourth quarter.
UFL Week 8- 4th Quarter
The Defenders offended the Renegades on their next drive when Ta’amu threw a three-yard pass to Rowland. The one-point try wasn’t successful, bringing the lead back up to 33-23 with 10:24 to play.
The Renegades were driving one more time, and backup quarterback Holton Ahlers scored on a goal-line sneak. The one-point try made it a field goal game, 33-30.
With the Renegades driving to either tie or win the game, Perez threw the game-sealing interception, and the Defenders were able to defend with one more stop with 0:03 left to hang on for the thrilling win, 33-30.
Key Stats
Arlington
Offense
Luis Perez (QB) 32-46 for 350 yards (2 TDs, 1 INT)
Tyler Vaughns (WR) 3 catches, 51 yards (17 yard catch) (2 TDs)
Defense
Charlie Thomas III (LB) 12 combined tackles (1 tackle for loss, 2 passes deflected)
Steven Jones Jr. (CB) 11 combined tackles
Joe Powell (S) 6 combined tackles
Special Teams
Jayden Price (CB) 3 returns for 59 yards (19.7 yards return)
Steven Jones, Jr. (CB) 1 return for 19 yards (19 yards return)
Chris Claybooks (CB) 1 return for 15 yards (15 yards return)
DC
Offense
Jordan Ta’amu (QB) 15-26 for 240 yards (2 TDs, 0 INTs)
Deon Jackson (RB) 10 carries for 89 yards (8.9 yards carry) (1 TD)
Abram Smith (RB) 4 carries for 11 yards (2.8 yards carry) (1 TD)
Cornell Powell (WR) 4 catches for 59 yards (14.8 yards catch) (2 TDs)
Defense
Josh Proctor (FS) 17 combined tackles
Michael Ojemudia (CB) 4 combined tackles (1 INT return for TD)
Special Teams
Jaydon Mickens (WR) 2 returns for 32 yards (16 yards return)
Chris Rowland (WR) 2 returns for 30 yards (15 yards return)
To Catch the Full UFL Schedule:
Next Week
The (6-2) DC Defenders have clinched a spot in the postseason and will head on the road next week to take on the (3-5) Houston Roughnecks at 4:00 pm EST on Sunday, May 25, @ TDECU Stadium.
The (3-5) Arlington Renegades are eliminated from postseason contention, but will travel to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium to face the (2-6) Memphis Showboats @ noon EST on Saturday, May 24, in Memphis, Tennessee.
For another interesting Sports story, please check out:
UFL Week 7: DC Defenders Beat San Antonio Brahmas in a Dog Fight, 32-24
