There’s a new champion in spring football, and it wasn’t the team most people saw coming. The DC Defenders crushed the Michigan Panthers 58–34 in a title game that flipped every expectation on its head. It felt as surprising as stumbling on a crypto betting site that actually keeps things simple—no fine print, no hidden rules—just action when it matters and your chance to put your money where your mouth is when it comes to football.
DC did not squander any time. They were trailing 6–13 at the beginning of the game, but they stepped on the gas in the second quarter and never let up. They scored 31 points in a single spurt, which left the Panthers chasing shadows. Despite the fact that quarterback Jordan Ta’amu was not throwing monster bombs, he was clean, smart, and deadly efficient, and he racked up 204 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Deon Jackson and Abram Smith turned the field into their personal runway, racking up a combined 180 rushing yards and three touchdowns. It wasn’t flashy. It was brutal. The kind of football that grinds down an opponent until there’s nothing left but mistakes.
As well, defense played a significant role. Malik Fisher grabbed two sacks. Nine tackles for loss as a unit. Michigan couldn’t build momentum if they wanted to. Everything that worked in their 8–2 season fell apart right when it mattered most.
And that’s the real story. The Panthers were supposed to cruise. They’d beaten everyone that counted. They came into this UFL championship in St. Louis feeling untouchable, even with the Defenders already knocking out the Battlehawks in the conference championship. But Shannon Harris—the guy who wasn’t even supposed to be head coach after Reggie Barlow bailed for the NFL in March—rolled in with the simplest plan: play fearless. Play fast. Play like the whole thing could burn down tomorrow.
It worked.
For the fans in St. Louis, who filled The Dome again like they always do, this was another bitter ending. No hometown miracle this time. The Battlehawks never made it past DC. The Panthers never stood a chance against them, either. Just like that, the Defenders ran the table.
It was more than just a victory. This served as a reminder. It used to be that spring football was a sideshow for NFL leftovers or guys waiting for camp invites, but now it takes on a different meaning. The UFL, which is a new, muddled, and merged entity that was formed from the former XFL and USFL, is beginning to feel more real. There is a heightened awareness among networks. The number of fans is increasing. And DC has just seen to it that everyone else does as well.
After this, what happens? What are the chances of the NFL acquiring Ta’amu? The question is whether Harris will drop the label of “interim” and become the face of this team. Or will fresh NFL rumors pull him elsewhere? Questions like those should be saved for another time.
At the moment, the crown belongs to DC. And spring football has its chaos king.
