In front of an enthusiastic crowd of 18,684 at Audi Field Stadium, the D.C. Defenders secured their place in the XFL Championship Game after a decisive 37-21 victory over the Seattle Sea Dragons. The Defenders demonstrated a balanced offensive attack, with both passing and rushing touchdowns, and a strong defensive effort to seal the win.
The first half of the game saw a tight contest with the Defenders taking a narrow 9-6 lead into the break. However, D.C. came out firing in the second half, scoring 14 points in the third quarter and 14 more in the fourth to secure their spot in the championship game. The Defenders’ offense was led by Jordan Ta’amu, who threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns, and D’Eriq King, who added 41 passing yards. The rushing attack was headlined by Cam’Ron Harris, who scored two touchdowns on the ground, while Abram Smith contributed another.
Seattle quarterback Ben DiNucci put up a valiant effort, completing 31 of 48 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns. However, the Sea Dragons’ rushing game struggled to get going, with DiNucci and Phillip Lindsay combining for just 13 rushing yards.
The Defenders’ receiving corps had a productive day, with Briley Moore leading the way with 80 yards on four catches. Lucky Jackson and Ethan Wolf each caught a touchdown pass, while Josh Hammond contributed 55 yards on six receptions.
On the defensive side, D.C.’s Santos Ramirez and D.J. Swearinger each notched seven tackles, while Fadol Brown, Joseph Wallace, and Andre Mintze each registered a sack. The Seattle defense was paced by Tyrell Adams, who recorded nine tackles, and Antoine Brooks Jr., who contributed seven tackles and an interception.
The D.C. Defenders will now prepare for the XFL Championship Game, which will be held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday, May 13 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
