by Week 9 of the UFL season brought late game momentum swings, back and forth battles, cutthroat eliminations, and playoff clinchers. With only one week left in the regular season, the playoff race is heating up like we have never seen before.
(5-4) DC Defenders 19, (7-2) Orlando Storm 27
The Orlando Storm defeated the DC Defenders 27-19 in Week 9 behind an explosive passing attack and a strong defense in clutch moments. DC controlled possession and found success on the ground, rushing for over 200 yards throughout the game. But Orlando’s ability to capitalize on big plays ultimately sealed them the win.
Orlando opened the game with a 62-yard touchdown connection from Jack Plummer to Chris Rowland down the sideline before DC responded with a Matt McCrane field goal and later took a 10-7 lead on Deon Jackson rushing touchdown. The Storm answered early in the second quarter when Plummer found Elijhah Badger for a 41-yard touchdown strike. Cam Camper later capped off another scoring drive with a two-yard touchdown reception after a 35-yard catch earlier in the drive to extend Orlando’s lead to 21-10 before halftime. DC attempted a 67-yard four-point field goal as time expired, but the kick came up well short.
The Defenders dominated on the ground throughout the night, finishing with 202 rushing yards against a Storm defense who has been lights out all season. Spencer Sanders led the team in rushing yards with 75 yards on 8 scrambles, while Deon Jackson averaged 8 yards per carry on 8 attempts. DC struggled on third downs going just 3-17, while Orlando’s offense stayed efficient behind Jack Plummer, who completed 21 of 27 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.
DC slowly cut into the deficit during the second half as McCrane connected on field goals from 56, 28, and 42 yards to bring the Defenders within five points late in the fourth quarter. The 28-yard field goal came after a tremendous goal line stand from the Storm, where the Defenders had first and goal from the four-yard line and after two tackles for loss they forced DC to a field goal. Orlando later answered with a 51-yard kick from Michael Lantz to push the lead back to eight with 25 seconds remaining. The Defenders had one final chance, but Keshawn Banks stripped Defenders quarterback Spencer Sanders which was recovered by Fabien Lovett to officially secure the Storm victory.
The win gives Orlando another important victory as the Storm continue pushing toward the top playoff seed and can officially clinch the #1 seed next week with another win. Despite the loss, the Defenders have already secured a playoff spot and will now focus on trying to keep the #3 seed to avoid playing a postseason matchup against whichever team finishes as the league’s top seed.
(4-5) Birmingham Stallions 29, (3-6) Columbus Aviators 36
The Columbus Aviators were already eliminated from playoff contention entering Week 9, but they delivered one of the most dramatic wins of the UFL season by stunning the Birmingham Stallions 36-29. Birmingham controlled most of the game and entered the fourth quarter in position to strengthen their playoff hopes, but late mistakes and a clutch Columbus finish completely flipped the outcome.
The game opened with immediate chaos as Stallions quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw an interception to O’Donnell Fortune on the very first play of the opening drive. Columbus failed to capitalize after new starting quarterback Jalen Morton fumbled on the next drive, allowing Alex Cook to return it for a defensive touchdown to open the scoring. Nehemiah Shelton then blocked the extra point and returned it all the way for a one-point defensive conversion to give Birmingham an unusual 6-1 lead. The Stallions later extended the lead to 13-1 on a 17-yard touchdown pass to Deon Cain before John Lovett answered with a 16-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter for the Aviators. A defensive pass interference penalty later erased what would have been a turnover on downs for Birmingham, which helped set up a one-yard rushing touchdown by Tyrion Davis-Price to extend the Stallions lead to 20-8.
Columbus answered before halftime as Gunnar Oakes hauled in a 20-yard touchdown reception to trim the deficit to 20-14. Birmingham added a late Anders Carlson field goal before halftime. Later Carlson connected again from 43 yards in the third quarter after Lovett caught his second touchdown of the game on a 34-yard reception to keep the Aviators within striking distance at 26-21. Birmingham still appeared in control entering the final minutes after Carlson remained perfect on the day extending the lead 29-21 early in the fourth quarter. The Aviators finally broke through late in the fourth quarter after a massive 42-yard defensive pass interference penalty moved Columbus deep into Stallions territory. Morton then scrambled for a nine-yard touchdown with 90 seconds remaining before Keke Chism secured the game-tying two-point conversion to even the score 29-29.
Just moments later, Thompson-Robinson forced a crucial mistake throwing an interception to D.J. Miller Jr which he returned all the way for a touchdown to take the lead with just over a minute left. Birmingham failed to convert on their final drive as Columbus completed the dramatic comeback. Morton thrived under his first week starting for the Aviators finishing with 213 passing yards, three touchdown passes and 96 rushing yards while leading Columbus to 392 total yards.
Although Columbus had already been eliminated from playoff contention entering Week 9, the win gives them momentum going into the season finale and might solve their problems at the quarterback position. Birmingham now faces even more pressure in Week 10 as the Stallions remain one of the two teams that have neither clinched a playoff berth nor been eliminated from playoff contention.
(3-6) Dallas Renegades 23, (5-4) Louisville Kings 37
The Louisville Kings defeated the Dallas Renegades 37-23 in Week 9 after capitalizing on key turnovers and several explosive fourth quarter plays. Louisville overcame an early turnover and several first half setbacks before scoring 21 points in the final quarter to hand Dallas their sixth straight loss and officially eliminate the Renegades from playoff contention.
Dallas opened the game strong after Ellis Merriweather ripped off a 20-yard run on the first play before leaving the game with an undisclosed injury he would not return from. Later in the drive, the Renegades converted a huge fourth and two with a 36-yard touchdown to Tyler Vaughns to take an early 7-0 lead. Louisville answered with a long six-minute drive, but James Robinson fumbled on the Dallas three-yard line which was recovered by the Renegades. The Kings later appeared to tie the game on a punt return touchdown, but head coach Rick Neuheisel successfully used his super challenge to overturn the score before Tanner Brown connected on a 45-yard field goal to cut the deficit 7-3 and break the UFL single season record for most field goals.
Dallas extended the lead to 10-3 on a 49-yard field goal from Colton Theaker early in the second quarter before Louisville’s offense started to settle in. After a 29-yard reception by Kaden Prather, quarterback Chandler Rogers punched in a one-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game at 10-10. Tanner Brown later drilled another 35-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining in the half to give the Kings a 13-10 lead going into halftime. Brown added a 54-yard field goal midway through the third quarter to extend the lead to 16-10. Dallas answered late in the third when Curtis Hodges brought down a 12-yard touchdown reception to start the fourth quarter to briefly give the Renegades the lead 17-16.
Louisville immediately answered as Rogers connected with Isaiah Winstead for a 40-yard touchdown before the Kings converted a reviewed two-point conversion to take a 24-17 lead. On Dallas’ next drive, Austin Reed was intercepted by Eric Garror, setting up another Louisville touchdown as Ian Wheeler’s one-yard rush got into the endzone thanks to a 35-yard burst earlier in the drive. Tarik Black later added a 22-yard touchdown reception to extend the lead to 37-17 before Dallas scored late on a Lorenzo Lingard rushing touchdown. The Renegades attempted an alternate kickoff attempt starting with fourth and 12 from their own 28-yard line, but quarterback Luke Lehnen was sacked to effectively end the game.
Louisville improved to 5-4 with the win and will try to clinch the last playoff spot in Week 10 with a victory over the Columbus Aviators. Dallas dropped to 3-6 and officially saw their playoff hopes come to an end after losing six consecutive games despite opening the season looking like the best team in the league.
(6-3) St. Louis Battlehawks 21, (3-6) Houston Gamblers 15
The St. Louis Battlehawks erased an early deficit to defeat the Houston Gamblers 21-15 to remain alive in the race for the UFL’s top playoff seed. Houston controlled much of the first half and built early momentum even after Hunter Dekkers reaggravated his shoulder injury forcing him to exit for the rest of the game after the Gamblers opening touchdown drive.
Houston struck first after Dekkers recovered a bad snap and found JaVonta Payton for a 7-yard touchdown, although a missed extra point would keep the lead at 6-0. Marcus Yarns later broke free for a 42-yard run that helped set up a John Hoyland field goal to extend the lead to 9-0 early in the second quarter. St. Louis repeatedly moved the ball but failed to capitalize after a missed field goal and a Jahcour Pearson red-zone fumble forced by Eli Walker. The Battlehawks finally answered was a Ramiz Ahmed field goal before Luis Perez connected with a 38 yard prayer to Hakeem Butler who made an amazing catch and run to be able to get into the end zone as time expired in the first half to suddenly give St. Louis a 10-9 halftime lead.
Houston answered midway through the third quarter after Jalen Moreno-Cropped hauled in a 44-yard reception that set up a four-yard rushing touchdown from Kirk Merritt. The Gamblers failed on the two-point attempt, keeping the score at 15-10 and leaving momentum within reach for St. Louis. The Battlehawks would answer with one of their best drives of the night, controlling the ball for six minutes before Kylin James scored on a two-yard rushing touchdown. St. Louis converted on the two-point conversion to reclaim the lead at 18-15 late in the third quarter. The fourth quarter turned into a defensive battle as both teams traded crucial turnovers and missed opportunities. Major Burns intercepted Luis Perez early in the fourth to give Houston momentum, but the Gamblers quickly gave it away when Jontre Kirklin fumbled after a short reception to give the ball right back to the Gamblers.
Neither offense found rhythm afterward until Ahmed drilled a 34-yard field goal with under three minutes remaining to extend the lead 21-15. The Gamblers started to drive down the field but needing a touchdown, they were forced to convert on fourth and eight on the Battlehawks 36-yard line, but the pass would fall incomplete ultimately ending the game. Perez finished with 232 passing yards and a touchdown, while Steven McBride led the team with 76 receiving yards. Houston relied heavily on Yarns and Moreno-Cropped offensively after Hunter Dekkers exited the game.
The Battlehawks improved to 6-3 and remained alive for the UFL’s 1 seed in the playoffs entering Week 10, needing both a victory and an Orlando Storm loss to secure the top spot. Houston fell to 3-6 and will enter the final week of the season already eliminated from playoff contention despite another competitive performance.
