Columbus, OH – April 3, 2026 – DC earned its first win of the season, spoiling Columbus’ residence debut at Historic Crew Stadium. After totaling simply 153 yards of offense in Week One, the Defenders exploded for 319 whole yards and dominated the Aviators. Deon Jackson accomplished the hat trick with three speeding touchdowns.
The vitality in Columbus’ first residence recreation was electrical from the beginning. Between a packed crowd, head coach Ted Ginn Jr. returning residence, and anticipation for Gavin DeGraw’s halftime efficiency, this had all of the makings of an enormous Friday evening.
After immense struggles offensively in Week One, DC wasted no time establishing its presence. On simply their third play from scrimmage, Jordan Ta’amu dropped a stupendous ball within the bucket to Cornell Powell for 32 yards.
Two crucial penalties on Columbus, together with pointless roughness and taunting, helped arrange Deon Jackson’s second landing in as many video games. And it was only the start for him.
However, there have been clear indicators of enchancment from each offenses. Jalan McClendon marched the Aviators down the sector on a 13-play, 60-yard drive earlier than discovering pay grime.
McClendon related with Tay Martin on third right down to keep away from an early three-and-out, and Columbus started to seek out its rhythm. He capped the drive himself, punching it in on a six-yard quarterback draw to ship Historic Crew Stadium right into a frenzy for its first landing. His legs had been a significant component, highlighted by two key runs on the drive.
DC answered on the following possession, however as soon as once more, penalties performed a job. Another pointless roughness name on Columbus set the Defenders up within the crimson zone.
This time, the Aviators’ protection held agency, forcing DC to accept a 35-yard subject purpose from Matt McCrane.
The query rapidly grew to become: which protection would step up first?
On third-and-11, it regarded like DC may need its reply, however McClendon had different plans. He scrambled for 13 yards, persevering with to use the Defenders together with his legs.
Eventually, although, DC’s protection, dominant every week in the past, got here by with the primary true cease of the sport. Ryan Coe missed from 51 yards out, handing DC the ball in sturdy subject place.
It appeared Ta’amu took discover of McClendon’s success on the bottom. On the following drive, he stored it on a learn possibility for a 17-yard burst, showcasing his personal mobility. That sequence sparked a dominant speeding stretch for DC, with Xazavian Valladay turning into more and more concerned.
Ta’amu prolonged the drive with a fourth-and-three conversion to Powell, and the bottom recreation took over from there. DC rushed for 55 yards on the drive, capped by a 10-yard landing run from Valladay.
By halftime, DC had piled up three speeding touchdowns and an eye-popping 121 yards on the bottom, making the sport plan clear: assault Columbus’ run protection.
The Defenders’ protection stepped up once more earlier than the break because the cross rush started to seek out its footing. Devonnsha Maxwell broke by for DC’s first sack of the sport.
Ginn Jr. rolled the cube on fourth-and-one in his personal territory, however DC’s stress compelled McClendon into an errant throw, giving the Defenders glorious subject place as soon as extra.
They capitalized rapidly. Ta’amu discovered Jackson on a 29-yard wheel route, and Jackson adopted it up with a 12-yard speeding landing on the very subsequent play, extending DC’s result in 24-7.
Despite forcing a punt on the following possession, DC gave momentum proper again, fumbling the return and setting Columbus up in plus territory. The errors compounded, as three consecutive penalties moved the Aviators contained in the 10-yard line.
Zaquandre White completed the drive in model, hurdling into the top zone to chop the deficit to 24-14.
The chaotic first half wasn’t finished but. Ta’amu was intercepted by Michael Lawson, however Sam Kidd returned the favor with an interception of his personal, bailing out DC and sending the sport to halftime.
Gavin DeGraw rocked Historic Crew Stadium on the break, and Columbus opened the second half with possession. What adopted was one of many wildest sequences of the evening.
McClendon was strip-sacked by Ferrod Gardner, who scooped up the unfastened ball and assumed he was down by contact, starting to have fun. No whistle was blown, and Antwane Wells Jr. and Tay Martin tracked him down, punched the ball unfastened, and recovered it for Columbus.
The Aviators had been pushed again to their very own 35-yard line and had been rapidly compelled to punt after one other strip-sack, this time by Boogie Basham.
Jackson struck once more. He broke free for a 48-yard landing run, his third rating of the evening, as he silenced the Columbus devoted as soon as once more.
Columbus turned the ball over for the third time on its subsequent possession, as Joe Wallace delivered a large hit on Antwane Wells Jr. and compelled a fumble.
Ta’amu then related with Briley Moore on a decent finish display screen, and Moore weaved his manner into the top zone to increase the result in 38-14, successfully placing the sport out of attain.
McClendon responded with a 12-play, 60-yard drive to provide Columbus some life. Toa Taua totaled 38 yards on the drive, serving to transfer the Aviators downfield. Alizé Mack hauled in a high-pointed cross from three yards out for his first landing of the season.
DC continued its dominant evening on the bottom and acquired one other playmaker concerned. Erik Ezukanma broke off a 32-yard run to push the Defenders again into the crimson zone. McCrane remained excellent, knocking by a 25-yard subject purpose to revive a 21-point lead at 41-20.
Columbus added a late landing on a Tay Martin rating, his first profession UFL landing, to cap off a robust particular person efficiency of six receptions for 57 yards.
McCrane added one other brief subject purpose late, placing the ending touches on a high-scoring affair.
The floor recreation was the story for DC. The Defenders rushed for 229 yards and totaled 319 yards of offense. Deon Jackson led the best way with 97 yards and three touchdowns, already matching his whole from final season with 4.
Jalan McClendon accounted for over 200 yards of offense and three whole touchdowns within the loss.
DC will make its residence debut subsequent Saturday in opposition to the Houston Gamblers at 12:00 PM ET on ESPN.
