The D.C. Defenders entered this game as the underdogs to the surging Birmingham Stallions.
This game is a huge test for the Defenders. D.C. is entering this matchup on a two-game winning streak, having beaten two teams that are winless on the season. Not to mention, both contests were determined within one possession.
On the other hand, the Stallions are the only undefeated team remaining, with a perfect 3-0 record. They are coming into this game after an imposing 33-14 win over the Memphis Showboats last week. The Stallions are on a roll and look to continue their streak in this game.
Birmingham’s Rahmiz Ahmed kicked off 77 yards and the ball was returned by Chris Rowland to the D.C. 32-yard line. D.C. Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu handed to Cam’Ron Harris for a 5-yard gain, and then handed to Harris for another 7 yards and a first down. Ta’amu went back to Harris for another 7 yards on the ground, but Harris fumbled and Birmingham’s Tillery recovered the ball at the Stallions’ 43-yard line.
Birmingham Stallions quarterback Matt Corral handed to C.J. Marable, but he gained zero yards. Another handoff to Marable was good for a 2-yard gain, and then Corral passed to Marable for 9 yards and a first down. Corral passed 9 yards to Amari Rodgers, and then rushed up the middle for a 5-yard gain to move the markers. A handoff to Marable gained 2 yards, and then a 13-yard Corral pass was caught by Austin at the D.C. 25-yard line.
Corral scrambled 11 yards to the D.C. 6, and then backup quarterback Adrian Martinez came in and ran for 3 yards. On second and 3, Marable rushed for 1 yard, and then Corral fumbled the ball on third down. The fumble was recovered by D.J. Swearinger giving D.C. the ball on their own 9-yard line.
Ta’amu delivered a short pass to Vyncint Smith who converted the gain to be 15 yards. A handoff to Zaquandre White went for a 22-yard gain, and then Ta’amu passed 14 yards to Kelvin Harmon to the Birmingham 35-yard line. A handoff to White gained 3 yards, and then a pass to Smith was good for 6 yards more. On third and 1, an 18-yard pass to Smith moved the ball to the Birmingham 8-yard line.
Ta’amu handed to White who lost a yard, and then passed incomplete up the middle intended for Ty Scott. On third down, Ta’amu passed short right to Rowland, who converted the play into a 9-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt failed, making the score 6-0 for D.C.
The Brooks kickoff was returned by Deon Cain to the Birmingham 37. Corral handed to Ricky Person for a 6-yard gain, and then handed again to Person for 6 more yards and a first down. Corral passed 9 yards to Binjimen Victor, and then handed to Person for 4 yards and another first down. A handoff to Marable lost 2 yards, and then Corral passed incomplete to Gary Jennings. On third down, Corral connected a 23-yard pass to Jace Sternberger on the D.C. 17-yard line to end the first quarter.
Corral handed to Ricky Person who rushed up the middle for 3 yards, and then passed to Victor for a 7-yard gain to the D.C. 7-yard line. Corral again handed to Person for 3 more yards, and then a handoff to Marable lost 4 yards as the D.C. defense forced a fumble on the tackle. The fumble was recovered by the Defenders’ Gareon Conley at the D.C. 7.
Ta’amu handed to Harris for a 5-yard gain, and then went back to Harris for a 1-yard rush. On third down, a handoff to Harris gained no yards and the Defenders were forced to punt.
Amari Rodgers returned the punt to the Birmingham 40-yard line. Corral passed short left to Cain for a gain of 10 yards, and then was sacked for a 3-yard loss. A handoff to Marable gained 3 yards, and then Corral was sacked again, this time for a 1-yard loss. The Stallions were forced to punt.
The Wadman punt was blocked by D.C’s Harmon and he recovered the ball on the Birmingham 36-yard line. Cam’Ron Harris rushed for 1 yard, and then White rushed up the middle for 27 yards to the Birmingham 8-yard line, but the play was called back due to a false start infraction.
On second and 14 from the Birmingham 40, Ta’amu’s pass to Keekee Coutee fell incomplete, and then Ta’amu scrambled for a 13-yard gain. On fourth and 1, White carried the ball but was stuffed for a 3-yard loss and the Defenders turned over the ball on downs.
Corral passed to Victor for a 17-yard gain, and then passed to Person for another 10 yards. On first down, Corral’s pass was incomplete, and then a catch by Rodgers was converted into a 50-yard touchdown. The one-point conversion failed, making the score tied 6-6.
Rowland returned the Ahmed kickoff to the D.C. 34. Ta’amu could not connect a pass to Alex Ellis, and then handed to Harris for a 1-yard gain as the two-minute warning was announced. On fourth down, a fumble led to a Stallions safety touch, making the score 8-6 for Birmingham.
The game went into weather delay due to lightning with 1:55 remaining in the first half. After a 90-minute delay, play was resumed.
Cain returned the kickoff to his own 32-yard line. Corral passed 4 yards to Cain, and then scrambled left for 6 more yards and a first down. A handoff to Marable gained no yards, and then Corral passed incomplete intended for Sternberger. A pass to Marable gained 3 yards and then Corral completed an 8-yard pass to Rodgers for a first down.
Corral rushed right 4 yards to the D.C. 28, and then the Stallions Ahmed kicked a 46-yard field goal to make the score 11-6 for the Stallions at halftime.
At the start of the second half, Brooks kicked off out of bounds, causing the ball to be spotted at midfield. Corral handed to Person for a 4-yard gain, and then handed to Person for 9 more yards. Person rushed for 8 yards, and again for 4 yards more.
A false start penalty pushed the Stallions back 5 yards, and then Corral could not complete his pass. A pass intended for Jennings fell incomplete, but a defensive pass interference penalty gave the Stallions a first down on the D.C. 21-yard line.
Corral handed to Person for a 6-yard gain, and then a Marable rush made 3 more yards. On third down, a handoff to Marable lost 2 yards, and the Stallions settled for an Ahmed 32-yard field goal to make the score 14-6 for Birmingham.
Rowland returned the Ahmed kickoff to the D.C. 32-yard line. Ta’amu handed to Harris for a 1-yard gain, and then passed to Rowland for 12 yards and a first down. Ta’amu could not convert a first down and the Defenders were forced to punt.
The punt went into the end zone for a touchback, and the Stallions began their drive on their own 25-yard line. A handoff to Marable gained 5 yards, and then another Marable run gained 3 yards. Another Marable run was not enough for a first down and Wadman punted.
The Defenders drive started on their own 40-yard line. Ta’amu handed to White for 3 yards, and then passed incomplete to Smith. A 4-yard Ta’amu run was short of the first down and the Defenders were forced to punt.
Rodgers received the punt via a fair catch at the Birmingham 14-yard line. Corral went three-and out and the Stallions punted.
The Defenders started their drive on the Birmingham 45-yard line. Ta’amu passed short right to Harmon who ran the ball 45 yards for a Defenders touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt failed, making the score 14-12 for Birmingham.
Brooks kicked off 60 yards and Deon Cain returned the ball to his own 36-yard line. Corral was sacked for a 2-yard loss as the 3rd quarter ended.
The score at the end of the third quarter was 14-12 for Birmingham.
To start the fourth quarter, Corral’s second down pass fell incomplete, and then he passed to Marable but he lost 2 yards. Unfortunately, the Wadman punt was shanked out of bounds at the Birmingham 45-yard line.
Ta’amu passed incomplete to Smith and then handed to White, but he lost 2 yards. On third down, Ta’amu passed 12 yards to Harmon for a first down on the Birmingham 30-yard line. A pass to Ellis was not caught, but a defensive pass interference penalty placed the ball on the Birmingham 22-yard line.
Ta’amu passed short to Ellis for 7 yards, and then handed to xx for a first down. A handoff to White gained no yards, and then a pass to Harris made only one yard. On third and 9, a handoff to Harris gained 6 yards and the Defenders opted to kick a 23-yard Matthew McCrane field goal giving the Defenders a 15-14 lead.
Cain returned the McCrane kickoff to the Birmingham 31-yard line. Corral passed to Ricky Person for a 14-yard gain, with Person being shaken up on the tackle. On first and 10, Corral was sacked for a 9-yard loss. On second down, Corral was pressured and slipped out of the pocket and ran the ball himself for a 20 yard gain to the D.C. 43-yard line. Reggie Barlow threw his challenge flag for a potential blocking from behind and the challenge failed.
Corral floated a pass to Jace Sternberger for a 20- yard gain at the D.C. 20. Another pass to Sternberger was incomplete, but the Defenders were penalized for roughing the passer. After video review, the penalty was nullified. Now second and 10, Corral’s pass to Cain was dropped, and then a handoff to Marable made 7 yards. On fourth and 3, Ahmed kicked a 27-yard field goal to make the score 17-15 for Birmingham.
Rowland returned the Ahmed kickoff to the Birmingham 43-yard line. Ta’amu passed incomplete to Smith, and then handed to Cam’Ron Harris but he lost 5 yards. A 19=yard pass to Harmon was complete for a first down on the Birmingham 30 as the two-minute warning was announced.
Ta’amu handed to White for a 3-yard gain, and then handed to White again for 3 more yards. A false start penalty pushed the Defenders back 5 yards. On third and 9, Ta’amu ran for 7 yards and then was hit hard. On 4th and 1, Matt McCrane kicked a 39-yard field goal to make the score 18-17 for D.C. with 1:04 remaining.
The Brooks kickoff was returned by Cain to the Stallions 41-yard line. Corral passed 10 yards to Cain on the D.C. 49, and then passed 15 yards to Amari Rodgers to the D.C.34. A pass to Austin moved the ball to the D.C. 34, and then a pass was almost intercepted by Michael Joseph. With 0:15 remaining, a pass to the end zone was nearly caught. On 4th and 3, Rahmiz Ahmed kicked a 46-yard field goal to make the score 18-17 for the Stallions.
With 0:04 remaining, Ahmed kicked off and Rowland returned the ball his own 33-yard line to end the game.
The final score was Birmingham Stallions 20, D.C. Defenders 18.
Box Scores
Score by Quarter
TEAM 1 2 3 4 T
DC 6 0 6 6 18
BIR 0 11 3 6 20
DC DEFENDERS
DC Defenders Passing
# PLAYER C-A YDS TD I C% RTG
10 Ta'amu, Jordan 12-22 161 2 0 55 146
DC Defenders Rushing
# PLAYER ATT YDS TD LNG AVG
03 Harris, Cam'Ron 11 34 0 7 3.1
11 White, Zaquandre 10 32 0 22 3.2
10 Ta'amu, Jordan 4 24 0 13 6
80 Barry, Trae 1 0 0 0 0
DC Defenders Receiving
# PLAYER NO YDS TD LNG TGT YAC
13 Harmon, Kelvin 5 93 1 45 6 46
86 Smith, Vyncint 2 33 0 18 5 13
12 Rowland, Chris 2 21 1 12 2 2
18 Ellis, Alex 1 7 0 7 3 1
89 Smith, Kaden 1 6 0 6 1 6
03 Harris, Cam'Ron 1 1 0 1 1 1
19 Scott, Ty 0 0 0 0 1 0
81 Coutee, Keke 0 0 0 0 1 0
DC Defenders Defense
# Player (Starter) TotTk Solo Sack TFL Int BrUp FF
57 Hines III, Anthony (LB) 11 10 0 2 0 0 0
36 Swearinger, D.J. (SAF) 7 6 0 0 0 0 0
43 Bernard, Francis (LB) 7 3 0 0 0 0 0
15 Joseph, Michael (CB) 6 6 0 0 0 1 0
50 Roberson, Derick 6 2 2 1 0 0 0
24 Kelly, Anthoula (CB) 5 5 0 0 0 0 0
91 Johnson, Dennis 4 3 0 1 0 0 0
33 Harris, Trent 4 0 0.5 0 0 0 0
39 Ramirez, Santos (SAF) 4 1 0 0 0 0 0
20 Conley, Gareon (CB) 4 4 0 0 0 1 0
90 Scott, Niles (DT) 4 1 0 0 0 0 0
07 Bellamy, Davin (DE) 3 1 0 0 0 0 0
92 Fisher, Malik (DE) 3 3 1 1 0 0 0
72 Barnes, T.J. 3 1 0.5 0 0 0 0
06 Gardner, Ferrod 3 1 0 0 0 0 0
55 Sanogo, Momo 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
13 Harmon, Kelvin 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
38 Rouse, Nydair 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
18 Ellis, Alex 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
25 Baker, Deandre 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
09 Anderson, Deontay 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
DC Defenders All Purpose Yards
Player Tot Rush Rec KOR PR IR-FR TDs
Rowland, Chris 173 0 21 126 26 0 1
Harmon, Kelvin 93 0 93 0 0 0 1
Harris, Cam'Ron 35 34 1 0 0 0 0
DC Defenders Punting
Punter NO YDS AVG LNG I20
Brooks, Paxton 3 143 47.667 53 1
DC Defenders Kick Returns
Returner NO YDS AVG LNG TD
Rowland, Chris 5 126 25 43 0
DC Defenders Punt Returns
Returner NO YDS AVG LNG TD
Rowland, Chris 2 26 13 13 0
DC Defenders Field Goals
Kicker Time Dist Result
McCrane, Matthew 4th-7:41 23 GOOD
McCrane, Matthew 4th-1:04 39 GOOD
TOTAL 2-2 LONG OF 39
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS
Birmingham Stallions Passing
# PLAYER C-A YDS TD I C% RTG
02 Corral, Matt 19-29 240 1 0 66 146.4
Birmingham Stallions Rushing
# PLAYER ATT YDS TD LNG AVG
23 Person Jr., Ricky 11 57 0 9 5.2
02 Corral, Matt 7 51 0 20 7.3
11 Marable, C.J. 14 19 0 7 1.4
09 Martinez, Adrian 1 3 0 3 3
Birmingham Stallions Receiving
# PLAYER NO YDS TD LNG TGT YAC
03 Rodgers, Amari 4 82 1 50 5 51
16 Victor, Binjimen 3 33 0 17 4 10
08 Cain, Deon 3 24 0 10 4 5
11 Marable, C.J. 3 10 0 9 3 10
12 Sternberger, Jace 2 50 0 27 4 22
23 Person Jr., Ricky 2 22 0 14 2 22
80 Austin Jr., Kevin 2 19 0 13 3 9
85 Baugh, Marcus 0 0 0 0 1 0
18 Zuber, Isaiah 0 0 0 0 1 0
05 Jennings, Gary 0 0 0 0 1 0
Birmingham Stallions Defense
# Player (Starter) TotTk Solo Sack TFL Int BrUp FF
31 Tezino, Kyahva (OLB) 10 6 0 2 0 0 0
04 Tillery, JoJo (SAF) 6 6 0 0 0 0 0
47 Gates, DeMarquis (LB) 5 3 0 1 0 1 0
24 Robinson Jr., Kenny (SAF) 4 3 0 0 0 0 1
32 Thomas, A.J. 4 3 0 0 0 0 0
14 Clarke, Nevelle 3 2 0 0 0 1 0
22 Burns, Lorenzo (CB) 3 2 0 0 0 1 0
94 Thompson, Jordan (DE) 3 1 0 1 0 0 0
57 Sullivan, Elijah 3 2 0 0 0 0 0
50 Garvin, Jonathan (DE) 2 1 0 0 0 1 0
19 Isom, Daniel 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
54 Charlton, Taco 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
28 Gilbert, Mark (CB) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
99 Tillman, Dondrea (DE) 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
11 Marable, C.J. 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
74 Dugas, O'Shea 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
80 Austin Jr., Kevin 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
23 Person Jr., Ricky 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
96 Davis, Carlos (NT) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
58 Wilson, Marvin 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Sternberger, Jace 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
Birmingham Stallions All Purpose Yards
Player Tot Rush Rec KOR PR IR-FR TDs
Cain, Deon 130 0 24 106 0 0 0
Rodgers, Amari 89 0 82 0 7 0 1
Person Jr., Ricky 79 57 22 0 0 0 0
Birmingham Stallions Punting
Punter NO YDS AVG LNG I20
Wadman, Colby 4 95 23.75 39 0
Birmingham Stallions Kick Returns
Returner NO YDS AVG LNG TD
Cain, Deon 5 106 21 27 0
Birmingham Stallions Punt Returns
Returner NO YDS AVG LNG TD
Rodgers, Amari 1 7 07 7 0
Birmingham Stallions Field Goals
Kicker Time Dist Result
Ahmed, Ramiz 2nd-00:00 46 GOOD
Ahmed, Ramiz 3rd-9:37 32 GOOD
Ahmed, Ramiz 4th-3:26 27 GOOD
Ahmed, Ramiz 4th-00:04 46 GOOD
TOTAL 4-4 LONG OF 46
GAME COMPARISON
STAT DC BIR
Total Yds 251 356
Pass Yds 161 226
Rush Yds 90 130
Penalties 4-32 4-27
1st Downs 12 21
3rd Downs 4-11 3-11
4th Downs 0-1 1-1
Total Plays 48 66
Avg Yds/Play 5.2 5.4
Avg Yds/Completion 13.4 11.9
Avg Yds/Rush 3.5 3.9
Sack-Adj Rush Yd(Avg) 90 (3.5) 144 (5)
Red Zone 1-2 0-4
Time of Poss 24:50 35:10
Turnovers (Def Pts Off) 1 (0) 2 (6)
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-2
Sacks (Def Yds) 4.0 (14.0) 0.0 (0.0)
TFL (Def Yds) 5 (16.0) 5 (47.0)
Alt. Kickoffs 0-0 0-0
