Final: DC Defenders 18, Birmingham Stallions 11

Opening weekend gave us everything we love about spring football: drama, defense, and a serious upset. The DC Defenders, with brand-new head coach Shannon Harris taking over just days before kickoff, took down the reigning back-to-back champs from Birmingham.

Here’s how it unfolded — one drive at a time.

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1st Quarter

Drive 1 – Stallions (0-0)
A quick three-and-out nearly turned disastrous when Birmingham went for it on 4th-and-1 and fumbled the handoff. DC recovered. Instant momentum swing.

📌 Statement stop by DC’s D-line early. That turnover set the tone.

Drive 2 – Defenders (0-0)
Ta’amu connected with Ty Scott on a crisp slant to move into scoring range. After stalling inside the 30, Matt McCrane drilled a 37-yarder.
➡️ DC leads 3–0

Drive 3 – Stallions
McGough started slow, but Birmingham’s kicker answered with a 53-yard bomb to tie it.
➡️ 3–3

Drive 4 – Defenders
Solid mid-field drive from Ta’amu, capped with another McCrane FG (39 yards).
➡️ DC up 6–3

Drive 5 – Stallions
McGough heated up, including a 22-yard dart on 3rd-and-16, and finally found rhythm.
Start of Q2: McGough hits a screen pass for a TD + conversion.
➡️ Stallions lead 11–6

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2nd Quarter

Drive 6 – Defenders
Stalled by pressure. Ta’amu threw it away on 3rd down. Punt.

Drive 7 – Stallions
DC’s defense sacked McGough on 3rd-and-1 to kill the drive.

Drive 8 – Defenders
Another drive into scoring range, but DT Carlos Davis batted a ball and came away with a pick. Huge play.

⚠️ The Stallions’ D-line had Ta’amu seeing ghosts with multiple tipped balls.

Drive 9 – Stallions
After a DC penalty, McGough nearly gave it back. Another punt.

Drive 10 – Defenders (2-Minute Drill)
Ta’amu uncorked a deep beauty to Jaydon Mickens, then got a roughing-the-passer call to set up 1st-and-goal.
He found Chris Rowland for a TD on 3rd down.
2-point try failed.
➡️ DC leads 12–11 at halftime.

🎯 Ta’amu started cooking late. 119 yards in the first half. Zero sacks taken.

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3rd Quarter

Drive 12 – Defenders
A diving catch from Ben Bresnahan was the only highlight. Punt.

Drive 13 – Stallions
Back-to-back sacks, including a monster loss by Kyle Phillips, killed any momentum.
➡️ That’s sack #2 and #3 for DC.

Drive 14 – Defenders
Ta’amu got bailed out by a Stallions offsides, but the drive fizzled after another batted pass.

Drive 15 – Stallions
Chaos. A McGough deep ball on 3rd-and-17 turned into a DeAndre Baker interception.

🚨 DC’s defense swarmed. McGough was rattled and running for his life.

Drive 16 – Defenders
Ta’amu dialed it in again, converting multiple 3rd downs including back-to-back slants to Cornell Powell.
End of 3rd: DC still up 12–11

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4th Quarter

Drive 16 (continued)
On 3rd-and-goal, ANOTHER batted pass forced a field goal.
➡️ DC leads 15–11

Drive 17 – Stallions
McGough had a dazzling 17-yard scramble on 3rd-and-15, followed by another run. But DC answered again—5th sack of the game—pushing them out of FG range. Punt.

💪 Every time McGough got something going, DC shut the door.

Drive 18 – Defenders
Clock-chewing, methodical, and capped by a 53-yard McCrane FG.
➡️ DC leads 18–11

Drive 19 – Stallions (1:50 left)
McGough tried to play hero. He ran for two big gains, but DC brought the hammer—two more sacks (sacks #6 and #7) ended the game. Fittingly.

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FINAL: DC 18, Birmingham 11

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Takeaways

• 🧠 Shannon Harris coached like a man with nothing to lose—and it worked. One week in, he’s 1–0.
• 🛡️ DC’s defense was elite: 7 sacks, 1 INT, multiple tipped balls. They dominated the trenches.
• 🔥 Jordan Ta’amu weathered early pressure, threw for over 160 yards, and made the drive of the game before halftime.
• ❌ Birmingham looked uncharacteristically out of sync. The offense stalled, the penalties piled up, and the playcalling was shaky.
• ❓ Still no sign of Matt Corral—and fans are starting to ask why.

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Drive of the Game

Drive 10 – Defenders (End of 2nd Quarter)
Clock winding down, Harris let Ta’amu air it out. The Mickens bomb, the roughing call, the TD to Rowland—all of it swung momentum and proved DC wasn’t just playing spoiler. They were here to win.