ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI (May 19, 2024) –The D.C. Defenders (3-5, 2-3 XFL) fell to the St. Louis Battlehawks (6-2, 4-0 XFL) on Sunday afternoon, 26-21. The total attendance for the game at The Dome at America’s Center was 32,403.
D.C. got on the board first, as PK Matthew McCrane converted on a 48-yard field goal to put the Defenders up 3-0. With 21 seconds remaining in the first, St. Louis SS Kameron Kelly picked off QB Jordan Ta’amu to give the Battlehawks some momentum heading into the second quarter.
St. Louis capitalized on the defensive takeaway after a 12-play, 52-yard drive resulted in a 26-yard field goal by PK Andre Szmyt. With the game tied at 3-3, a turnover on downs by D.C. would turn into points for the Battlehawks offense. RB Jacob Saylors found the end zone from two yards out, good for the first touchdown of the game by either team. An unsuccessful one-point conversion put the home team up 9-3. A 49-yard field goal by McCrane cut the lead to 9-6 at the half.
The Defenders would find paydirt on their first drive after intermission, as Ta’amu hit TE Alex Ellis for a 30-yard touchdown. A successful two-point conversion from Ta’amu to Ellis gave D.C. the lead at 14-9. On the following drive, with both teams now heating up, St. Louis RB Wayne Gallman II ran in for a 7-yard score. A successful two point conversion from QB Manny Wilkins Jr. to TE Kemari Averett put the Battlehawks back in front, 17-14.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Ta’amu was picked off yet again, this time at the hands of FS Qwynnterrio Cole. St. Louis made good on the turnover, as Szmyt knocked through a 37-yard field goal just seven plays later, extending the Battlehawks’ lead to 20-14. D.C. responded with an impressive 12-play, 73-yard scoring drive that concluded with a 17-yard strike from Ta’amu to WR Ty Scott. A successful one-point conversion from Ta’amu to TE Kaden Smith gave the Defenders a 21-20 advantage. Just five plays later, Gallman II pounded in his second touchdown of the afternoon, this time from a yard out, giving St. Louis the win.
Up next, the Defenders will play their final road game of the 2024 UFL regular season in week nine. They’ll face off against the Memphis Showboats (1-7 overall, 1-4 USFL) on Sunday, May 26 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
POSTGAME NOTES
- D.C.’s offense outgained St. Louis in both total yards (298-235) and passing yards (209-94.)
- QB Jordan Ta’amu went 23-of-40 (57%) with 196 yards, 2 TD, and 2 INT, for a passer rating of 105.2. He added five carries for 30 yards on the ground.
- RB Darius Hagans led the team in both carries (8) and rushing yards (37).
- WR Ty Scott had a team-high six receptions for 69 yards, along with a TD.
- D.C.’s defense had four sacks: DT T.J. Barnes, DE Malik Fisher, and SS Isaiah Johnson each had one. DE Andre Mintze and SS Santos Ramirez both recorded a half sack.
- ILB Anthony Hines III had a team-high 7 tackles (3 solo, 4 assist), which was tied for the game-high.
- PK Matthew McCrane went 2-for-2 (100%), converting field goals from 48 and 49 yards out.