D.C. Defenders drop UFL debut to San Antonio

The D.C. Defenders disappointed in their first-ever UFL game, a 27-12 loss to the San Antonio Brahmas on Sunday. 

The Defenders, who went 9-1 in the XFL last season, enter this season as one of the new league’s expected title contenders, while the Brahmas had the longest odds to win the inaugural UFL championship. 

D.C. spent most of the game playing catch-up after falling behind 14-3 in the first half. Defenders coach Reggie Barlow settled for field goals as his offense sputtered in enemy territory, failing to reach the end zone. The Brahmas, though, took chances early — and they paid off. 

With a 14-9 lead in the final seconds of the second quarter, the Brahmas lined up for 58-yard field goal attempt. Then, with their kicker lined up in the slot, holder Brad Wing, normally the team’s punter, took the snap and rolled right, hoping to hit his receiver on a crossing route. They’d run the trick play several times in practice and never completed it, the punter said later. 

The play broke down, on the verge of failing again, when Wing saw his 300-pound savior waiting 20 yards downfield. 

Starting center Alex Mollette had lined up on the wing as an eligible receiver. Though the play design didn’t involve him, the offensive lineman still meandered toward the goal line and gave his team an extra option. Wing heaved the pass to Mollette, who caught the ball and rumbled into the endzone for a 40-yard touchdown.

“Not how that was supposed to go, but we’ll take it,” Wing told a sideline reporter during the game. “Thank God. Happy Easter.”

The unexpected touchdown drew immediate reaction on social media from fans who love to see a “Thicc Six,” or any touchdown scored by a rotund lineman. The gutsy call gave San Antonio a 20-9 lead at halftime.

“That ball was not supposed to come to me … but it happened. I just thank the big man upstairs that I got to catch a touchdown on Easter Sunday,” Mollete said during the game. “Stuff hit the fan and I was there, but I love it for fat guys.”

Even when they weren’t relying on special teams trickery, San Antonio’s offense used pre-snap motion and misdirection to keep the Defenders guessing. 

“They don’t want to flat throw a normal pass because they know how good we are,” defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said during the game. “They’re trying to slow us down. And that’s a good plan … we’ve got to do a better job [tackling] in space.”

D.C.’s defense toughened up in the second half, starting with a shutout third quarter. But the offense, led by quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, never found its stride. 

Kicker Matthew McCrane trotted onto the field four times as drives died, converting all four of his field goal attempts for the Defenders’ 12 points. 

D.C. never found its way into the endzone.

The Defenders will return to Audi Field for their home opener on Sunday against the Houston Roughnecks. 

“When we go [to Audi Field], we know the fans are going to have our backs. We’re ready to put on for them.” defensive back Santos Ramirez said in a video for the team’s social media pages. “When you come watch us play, we’re going to put on a show.”