by The 2025 UFL Champion DC Defenders ruined the Home Opener for the Columbus Aviators with a 44-26 drubbing. Crazy enough, the score is even closer then the game actually was as DC had their way all night long with the expansion franchise.
The Aviator defense had no answers for the Defender attack as they compiled well over 300 yards. The Columbus defense stayed in a 1 back nickel formation most of the game but it didn’t work, despite stacking the box. The Defenders rushed for 229 yards on a rainy night at times and totaled 319 yards of offense all together on the night. The Defenders were led by Deon Jackson with 97 yards and three touchdowns as he had his way and lived in the Aviator secondary all game.
The Aviators struggled to move the ball and turned it over numerous times. Despite that, they managed to get some yards late when DC was in a very prevent defense as they were up big and the game was long over. Because of that, Columbus QB Jalan McClendon did manage to throw for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns, but it was all far too little too late by that point.
The Renegades wasted little time setting up shop for their first score on a big pitch and catch from Jordan Ta’amu to Cornell Powell for a 33 yard pickup along the right sidelines. He found man on man coverage from Lawson who couldn’t keep up with him as he made the over the shoulder sliding catch.
It wasn’t much longer after that the Defenders struck paydirt when Jackson rumbled in from one yard out. It looked for a moment that the Aviators would force a field goal following a Stone sack, but a costly penalty by Columbus gave DC new life in which they cashed in on.
Columbus wasn’t down long forever as quarterback McClendon led them on a 60 yard, 13 play drive to tie the game. McLendon did the bulk of the damage with his legs, including a 6-yard touchdown scamper to tie the game. It was a history making play as it was the first touchdown in Historic Crew Stadium by the Aviators. Until now, the stadium was only used for soccer and lacrosse.
It was truly one of the last times all night the Aviators fans had a chance to pump their chests. After a McLane 35 yard field goal and a missed 51 yarder from Coe, the Defenders had the 10-7 lead with good field position to play with. Once again it was their ground game making the movement play after play, capped by a 10 yard touchdown run from Xazavian Valladay.
The touchdown was set up perfectly by a nice pull block from their center Michael Miette to spring Valladay for the score as he gained a block at the second level. This handed DC a 17-7 lead with 5:11 to play in the opening half. This also made 3 straight scoring drives from DC to open the game.
Down 17-7 and feeling maybe slightly desperate, Tedd Ginn Jr rolled the dice on fourth and short from the Columbus 38 yard line but the gamble came up craps as a poor throw was nowhere close and the Defenders got the ball back, deep in Columbus territory. DC took advantage with as a 29 yard pass play to Jackson out of the backfield followed by a run from him on the next play for a 12 yard score and a 24-7 lead with a little under two minutes to play in the first half. DC scored on their first 4 drives of the game as Columbus could not stop them.
It looked for a moment that the game would go into the break 24-7 before we got some craziness to end the half. After a Columbus punt, the Defenders handed them a massive break by muffing the kick that was covered by the Aviators at the DC 35 yard line. Columbus suddenly had life and cashed it in, shocking the Defenders by going into the break only down 24-14 after a Zaquandre White touchdown run.
Up 24-14 early into the third quarter, the Defenders struck again, this time with a 48 yard touchdown run from Jackson, moving the lead to 31-14 in the third. From there, after forcing a Columbus turnover, they scored again to make it 38-14 when Ta’amu hit a streaking tight end Briley Moore to score.
Down 38-14, the Aviators made a valiant comeback effort, but it was far too little too late as the Defenders hung on for the 44-26 victory.
Columbus will have a chance to rebound from this one and learn from the tape as they now prepare for their next game, next Sunday against the Renegades in Dallas.
