The defending UFL champion D.C. Defenders got picked apart by nine sacks in a shocking 16-10 road loss.
The St. Louis Battlehawks (1-0) gutted out an ugly win over the D.C. Defenders (0-1) at The Dome at America's Center, stunning the 2025 champions in their season opener. The loss drops Washington into an early hole in what was supposed to be a title defense year.
Box Score
Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | OT | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D.C. Defenders | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
St. Louis Battlehawks | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
See full player stats and game details
Game Highlights
Top Performers
St. Louis Battlehawks
Brandon Silvers (QB) — 16/28, 198 yds, 1 TD
Gary Jennings Jr. (WR) — 1 rec, 64 yds
Kevon Latulas (RB) — 10 att, 23 yds; 3 rec, 61 yds
Pita Taumoepenu (OLB) — 5 tackles, 3 sacks
Jordan Mosley (S) — 6 tackles, 1 INT
D.C. Defenders
Jordan Ta'amu (QB) — 9/16, 123 yds, 2 INT
Deon Jackson (RB) — 17 att, 57 yds, 1 TD
Seth Williams (WR) — 3 rec, 51 yds
Deontay Anderson (S) — 4 tackles
Curtis Jacobs (MLB) — 3 tackles
Team Stats
Stat | D.C. Defenders | St. Louis Battlehawks |
|---|---|---|
Total Yards | 196 | 262 |
Passing | 9/16, 123 yds, 0 TD | 16/28, 198 yds, 1 TD |
Rushing | 23 att, 73 yds, 1 TD | 28 att, 64 yds, 0 TD |
Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
Quick Hits
St. Louis torched D.C. with nine sacks while giving up just three - a complete flip from what you'd expect from the defending champs
Jordan Ta'amu threw two picks and couldn't get anything going after the first quarter
Tyler Neville caught the game's only passing touchdown for St. Louis in the third quarter
What's Next
St. Louis Battlehawks (1-0) — at Dallas Renegades, April 7
D.C. Defenders (0-1) — at Columbus Aviators, April 3
UFL Standings | Full Schedule | League Leaders
What's your takeaway? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

