Round Two of the Rivalry; DC to Host St. Louis
by Ethan Berch
ARLINGTON, TX – April 15, 2026 – Another chapter in the best rivalry in the UFL takes place this Saturday in the nation’s capital. In round one this season, St. Louis got the best of DC, coming away victorious in a 16-10 slugfest.
Storylines to watch:
St. Louis Battlehawks
The Battlehawks are coming off an electrifying victory over the Birmingham Stallions, fueled by a 21-point fourth quarter comeback.
The spark for the Battlehawks offense has come from two names in particular: quarterback Harrison Frost and receiver Hakeem Butler. Frost entered at quarterback in the second half and led the comeback with three passing touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone.
St. Louis is expected to have Frost back under center after his breakout performance and hopes he can continue to be the difference-maker.
DC did not have to worry about Butler in Week One. This week, they will, and he is coming in hot. Butler exploded last week for 146 yards and a touchdown, including a 64-yard score that sparked the comeback. Now in rhythm, the Battlehawks will look to get him involved early and often against an elite DC defense.
Through three weeks, the Battlehawks have the third-best rush defense in the UFL, but they face a major test against DC. Deon Jackson leads the league in rushing yards and touchdowns. St. Louis held him to 57 yards in Week One, and keeping him in check will once again be crucial.
If they slow the run, they can let their pass rush eat. The Battlehawks sacked Jordan Ta’amu seven times in Week One. However, the unit has totaled just one sack since. Opponents have made halting the pass rush a priority, and it has worked over the past two weeks.
The deciding factor in Week One was putting Ta’amu under pressure and never allowing him to settle in. St. Louis forced him into two interceptions and flipped momentum throughout the game. Their defensive gameplan and execution were the difference, and how they approach Week Four will be critical against a red-hot offense.
St. Louis also needs to limit self-inflicted mistakes. The Battlehawks are the most penalized team in the UFL through three weeks. In a matchup expected to be close, avoiding momentum-killing penalties and negative plays will be essential.
DC Defenders
The Defenders are rolling in red hot after back-to-back 40-plus point performances following their Week One loss. In fact, they won by a record 38-point margin last week, setting a new UFL record.
The key to their explosive offense has been Deon Jackson. Jackson currently leads the UFL in rushing with 224 yards and five touchdowns. Alongside Abram Smith and Xazavian Valladay, DC’s rushing attack has taken over football games.
DC rushed for 229 yards in Week Two and another 164 last week. Against a strong rush defense this week, all eyes will be on that matchup. If DC can control tempo and move the chains with its rushing attack, it will be in a great spot to win.
Defensively, the Defenders have been the best in the league. DC leads the UFL in sacks, and its front seven is considered one of the best units in football. Edge rusher Derick Roberson anchors the group in his third year with the team and is coming off a multi-sack performance. This defense enters the rivalry matchup firing on all cylinders.
As a whole, DC’s defense does just about everything right and will not make it easy for Frost and the Battlehawks to find rhythm as they look to even the season series.
Reigning UFL Championship MVP Jordan Ta’amu has had a rough start to the season. He has turned the ball over four times in three games and has yet to fully find his stride. Even with that, the Defenders remain one of the league’s top teams. If Ta’amu finds his rhythm this week, it could be the key to DC’s chances of winning.
Lastly, this chapter will be played at Audi Field. Round one was in St. Louis, now the Defenders get home-field advantage with thousands of fans ready to get rowdy and multiply the beer snake.
X-Factor:
Both defenses are elite, so hidden yardage could decide this one. Whether it’s a big return, long field goal, or pinning the opponent deep, special teams may swing momentum in what feels like another tight defensive battle.
If the floodgates open early and this turns into a barn burner, the question becomes: which quarterback outduels the other, Harrison Frost or Jordan Ta’amu?