ST. LOUIS, MO — April 13, 2025 — In a chippy, high-stakes showdown between two of the UFL’s most heated rivals, the DC Defenders stayed perfect with a 27–15 road win over the St. Louis Battlehawks, snapping their opponent’s seven-game home win streak and delivering a statement in the USFL Conference race.

Fueled by defensive dominance and big plays from quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, DC improved to 3–0, while St. Louis dropped to 2–1 in a game that was physical, emotional, and every bit the rivalry fans expected.

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Early Strikes and Big Plays Set the Tone

DC came out swinging, putting up 12 points in the first quarter, including a 62-yard touchdown bomb from Ta’amu to Ty Scott that stunned the crowd inside The Dome at America’s Center. Ta’amu, who finished 17-of-37 for 243 yards and three touchdowns, followed up in the second quarter with a 10-yard scoring strike to tight end Ben Bresnahan, pushing the lead to 18–3.

The Battlehawks responded with a few punches of their own. Backup QB Manny Wilkins, filling in for AJ McCarron, connected on a 35-yard touchdown pass to Frank Darby, and Rodrigo Blankenship nailed field goals from 56, 38, and 25 yards — but DC’s defense kept them from finding rhythm or momentum for long.

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Jawing, Hits, and Turnovers: Rivalry on Full Display

The bad blood between these two franchises was evident from kickoff. The FOX Sports live blog repeatedly noted verbal exchanges, sideline emotion, and post-whistle jawing throughout the game. Both teams brought playoff-level energy — and plenty of chirping.

It was the Defenders’ defense, however, that did the most talking with their play. DC forced four turnovers, including two interceptions by Chris Payton-Jones, who blanketed receivers and cut off key drives. The unit set the tone early and finished strong, shutting out St. Louis in the final quarter.

The Battlehawks’ defense wasn’t quiet either — racking up a season-high 83 total tackles led by Olakunle Fatukasi and Nate Meadors — but it couldn’t flip the field often enough to give Wilkins consistent support.

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A Defining Road Win for DC

This was more than just a win — it was a message. The Defenders not only remained unbeaten but also halted a Battlehawks team riding a strong home-field streak and tons of fan momentum. The intensity, the turnover battle, and the physicality all played in DC’s favor — and now they stand atop the conference with the inside track to a playoff spot.

Meanwhile, St. Louis will look to regroup after a tough, emotionally charged loss in front of their home crowd.

image credit: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons