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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hawaii's Ta'amu looks to lead DC to UFL championship
In his fifth season of professional spring football, Hawai'i's Jordan Ta'amu is once again knocking on the door of a league title. The Pearl City graduate and former Ole Miss quarterback will lead the D.C. Defenders into the United Football League Conference Championship this Sunday against the St. Louis Battlehawks, one of Ta'amu's former teams. Since beginning his pro career in 2020, Ta'amu has tallied more than 10,000 total yards and 72 touchdowns across the XFL, USFL, and now the UFL. Despite earning league MVP honors and spending time with NFL franchises like the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, and Houston Texans, a championship has eluded the 27-year-old signal-caller. 'I'm just so excited and happy for our team to be where we're at right now,' Ta'amu told KHON2 Sports. 'Just to continue the journey that I'm still going, still playing, still throwing the rock around, and making my family proud. We get to play at a high level and for something big, a championship. You learn from your past, right? We're trying to rewrite history.' Ta'amu made headlines earlier this season with a highlight-reel trick play, catching his first career receiving touchdown after hurdling a defender on his way to the end zone. 'That was amazing,' Ta'amu said. 'If you haven't seen that trick play, please go watch it. It was probably the highlight of my career, catching it, hurdling somebody, and scoring. I was so hyped. It was definitely a blessing to celebrate that moment with my teammates.' Sunday's conference title game will also feature another Hawai'i connection: St. Louis reserve quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, a Saint Louis School graduate and former University of Hawai'i standout. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. HST and will air live on KHON2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
2025 UFL MVP Power Rankings: Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu leads after Week 8
Week 8 of the UFL season is in the books. The playoff schedule is all set and ready to go. Where do we stand in the MVP race? Heading into Week 9, the MVP race appears to be a two-man competition between a pair of quarterbacks that have stood out above the rest this season: Bryce Perkins and Jordan Ta'amu. Does Perkins or Ta'amu claim the top spot in this week's rankings? Who else is in the mix and has a chance to make a run at MVP honors? Here's a look at my updated UFL MVP rankings heading into Week 9: 4. St. Louis Battlehawks RB Jacob Saylors Week 8 stat line: 16 rushes, 118 yards, 1 TDWeek 8 result: 29-28 win over Birmingham Saylors has been the most consistent offensive weapons in the UFL throughout the season. He leads all rushers with 466 yards and is tied for first place in rushing touchdowns with five. With more performances like last week, Saylors could be the primary reason the Battlehawks win their first UFL postseason contest. 3. Arlington Renegades QB Luis Perez Week 8 stat line: 32-of-46 for 350 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INTWeek 8 result: 33-30 loss to DC Perez has consistently shown himself to be one of the league's best passers. Heading into the final two weeks of the season, he has thrown for more than 1,800 yards, completed 70.9% of his passes and has thrown seven touchdowns to five interceptions. Though the Renegades are out of the playoff hunt, Perez still has a chance to top 2,000 yards passing in 10 games. 2. Michigan Panthers QB Bryce Perkins Week 8 stat line: N/AWeek 8 result: N/A Though Perkins did not play in Week 8, it's been clear since he ascended to QB1 in Michigan that his playmaking ability is what has allowed the Panther offense to remain dynamic. Perkins plays the QB position like a point guard, passing when players are open, but he's also just as adept at moving the chains with his feet. The Panthers always have an option to run or pass when Perkins drops back, and that skill will serve them well against the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL Conference Championship Game. 1. DC Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu Week 8 stat line: 15-of-26 for 240 passing yards, 2 TDsWeek 8 result: 33-30 win over Arlington No one has proven to be more adept at creating explosive plays for their team than Ta'amu. With 1,990 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, he has thrown for nearly 200 more yards than the second-leading passer in the league and twice as many TDs as the No. 2 QB with that mark. While his completion percentage is 53.6%, when Ta'amu completes passes, they're more than likely to be chunk plays. Those chunk plays have allowed the Defenders to clinch their first UFL playoff appearance and have Ta'amu positioned as the presumptive MVP of the league. RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports. Follow him at @RJ_Young. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Fox News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Renegades WR Tyler Vaughns' one-handed TD highlights top UFL plays from Week 8
Print Close Published May 19, 2025 Week 8 of the 2025 UFL season featured some more exciting action as the regular season nears its end and playoff tickets are being punched. Three of the four games over the weekend were decided by a score, with one of those games needing overtime to determine the winner. Another one of those battles featured a pair of title hopefuls going head-to-head in St. Louis, with that game being determined in the final seconds. [MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League ] That said, here are the 10 best plays from Week 8. 10. Battlehawks' defense comes up with another game-sealing turnover Two weeks after getting a strip-sack in the final moments to defeat the Renegades, the Battlehawks' defense did something similar to help clinch their win over the Stallions. St. Louis linebacker Travis Feeney punched the ball out of Birmingham running back C.J. Marable's grasp as the Stallions were looking to get into field goal range in the final seconds of Saturday's game. Instead, the Battlehawks were able to get on the loose ball with 16 seconds remaining, sealing a 29-28 win. 9. Defenders bring out the trickery QB Jordan Ta'amu led the UFL in passing yards and touchdowns entering Week 8, but the Defenders opted for someone else to throw the ball for a touchdown when they made their way deep into Renegades territory in the second quarter of Sunday's game. Chris Rowland took a reverse and threw the ball back to the Defenders' quarterback, who caught the ball and ran into the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown. 8. Roughnecks QB Jalan McClendon finds his guy deep Trailing 14-3 in the second quarter of Saturday's game against the Panthers, McClendon took a chance to help the Roughnecks find the scoreboard. His willingness paid off, as he dropped the ball between two Panthers defenders to wide receiver Keke Chism for a 33-yard touchdown. 7. Showboats open the game with a pick-six The Showboats' defense opened Friday's game against the Brahmas on the right note. Memphis defensive back Cameron Dantzler telegraphed San Antonio quarterback Kevin Hogan's pass perfectly, jumping in front of the intended receiver to get the ball and returning it 43 yards for a touchdown. 6. Stallions QB J'Mar Smith drops a dime while getting hit In his first start with the Stallions, Smith showed the same composure he had when he led his team to a come-from-behind victory in Week 7. On his second dropback of Saturday's game, Smith took a hard hit from a rusher, but he was able to get the ball out. His pass was right on target as well, connecting with Deon Cain for a 65-yard score. 5. Brahmas get a trick play TD The Defenders weren't the only team to get a trick play touchdown pass in Week 8. In the second quarter of Friday's game against the Showboats, tight end Steven Stilianos got a screen pass before launching a pass down the field to wide receiver Dee Anderson for a 33-yard touchdown. 4. Stallions WR Deon Cain hits the jets for six Smith and Cain connected for a touchdown for the second time in Saturday's game in the third quarter. This time around, though, Cain did a lot of the work. Smith threw a dart to the receiver on an in route before he sped up and ran into the end zone for a 50-yard touchdown. 3. Defenders RB Deon Jackson goes 57 yards untouched It didn't take long for the Defenders' offense to get into the end zone in Sunday's game against the Renegades. On their second play from scrimmage, Jackson took a handoff out of a shotgun formation and ran right by Renegades defenders for a 57-yard touchdown. 2. Panthers DB Keni-H Lovely dances his way to six The Panthers' defense helped break Saturday's game against the Roughnecks open in the third quarter. Holding a 21-12 lead, Lovely intercepted Roughnecks quarterback Danny Etling. As he made his way downfield, it looked like Lovely was going to be taken down well before he reached the end zone. Instead, he danced around some defenders to score a 55-yard pick-six. 1. Renegades WR Tyler Vaughns comes up with one-handed TD grab Renegades QB Luis Perez threw a touchdown pass to Vaughns twice in the first half of Sunday's game against the Defenders. The second was the more impressive of the two, with Perez's pass being a bit high, but Vaughns making the grab thanks to his long arms. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! Print Close URL
Fox News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
UFL 2025: Every touchdown from Week 7
Week 7 of the 2025 UFL season featured four highly competitive games, with some of them coming down to the final seconds of action. We saw everything from a walk-off win to a double-digit comeback. Those four matchups combined for 22 touchdowns over the weekend, including one as time expired in the most exciting ending of the season. Now let's take a look at every touchdown scored in Week 7. Both teams punted on their first possession, but then the DC Defenders struck on their next drive, with Deon Jackson capping off a 10-play drive with a 3-yard rushing touchdown. The San Antonio Brahmas answered with a 10-play touchdown drive of their own, as quarterback Kevin Hogan found wide receiver Alize Mack for a 7-yard score. San Antonio got two field goals on the board later in the second quarter but then helped DC send the game into halftime tied at 12 apiece after Hogan fumbled. Linebacker Anthony Hines III then picked up the ball and ran it back 51 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the first half. The Brahmas got back on track to open the second half, stringing together an 11-play drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown catch by tight end Steven Stilianos. Late in the third quarter, Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta'amu targeted wide receiver Cornell Powell for a 29-yard touchdown. Ta'amu then hit wide receiver Braylon Sanders for a 76-yard score, putting DC up 25-18 with 10:17 remaining in the game. But just two plays later, San Antonio's Jashaun Corbin rushed for a 57-yard touchdown. DC responded with a 13-play, 7:32 drive that ended with Ta'amu connecting with guard Gunner Britton for a 4-yard score with 1:55 remaining. A fumble recovery soon after put the finishing touches on a 32-24 Defenders victory. This game produced the best finish of the season. After punting on their first two possessions and trailing the Arlington Renegades on the road, 3-0, the Michigan Panthers put together an eight-play touchdown drive that ended with quarterback Bryce Perkins rushing for a 24-yard touchdown after he initially fumbled the ball going into the end zone. The two teams later traded field goals, with Michigan leading 9-6 at halftime. Neither team reached the end zone in the third quarter, though Arlington tacked on two field goals. Twelve plays after recovering a Michigan fumble, Arlington took an 18-9 lead when Luis Perez and wide receiver Tyler Vaughns hooked up for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Michigan responded with a 12-play touchdown drive of its own, as Perkins and wide receiver Malik Turner connected on a 12-yard touchdown pass followed by a three-point conversion to tie the game at 18-all with 5:47 remaining in the fourth quarter. But, seven plays later, Perez hit tight end Sal Cannella for a 10-yard touchdown, putting the Renegades back ahead. Arlington did, however, fail to convert a two-point try, and it paid dearly for that miss. After getting the ball to the Renegades 1-yard line with one second remaining in the game, Panthers running back Toa Taua punched in a game-tying touchdown as time expired and then rushed for a walk-off 1-point conversion. The first four possessions of this game ended in the end zone. Zaquandre White struck first blood for the Houston Roughnecks on the 10th play of the game with a 9-yard rushing score. Running back C.J. Marable returned the favor for the Birmingham Stallions with a 9-yard rushing score of his own on the next possession. But, two plays later, White took off for a 52-yard touchdown. And three plays after that score, Houston took an 18-6 lead when cornerback Damon Arnette intercepted Birmingham quarterback Case Cookus and ran the pick back 51 yards for a touchdown. The Roughnecks took a 25-6 lead the next time they touched the ball when quarterback Jalan McClendon hit wide receiver Keke Chism for an 11-yard touchdown with 5:54 remaining in the second quarter. Birmingham finished the first half strong, though, as Cookus and tight end Jace Sternberger hooked up for an 8-yard touchdown pass on its final drive. The Stallions got closer with field goals on each of their first three possessions of the second half and then took their first lead when quarterback J'Mar Smith — who took over for an injured Cookus in the fourth quarter — ran in a 1-yard score with 1:55 remaining in the game. Following a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and then an unnecessary roughness penalty on Houston, Birmingham took over at the opposing 2-yard line, and running back Ricky Person Jr. smacked in a touchdown. The Roughnecks turned the ball over on downs on the next possession, helping the Stallions achieve an eventful 33-25 win. Both teams punted on their first respective possessions, but the St. Louis Battlehawks reached the end zone the next time they touched the ball when quarterback Max Duggan rushed for a 7-yard touchdown. St. Louis then got a field goal on its next drive. The Memphis Showboats came to life late in the first half when Dresser Winn and wide receiver Jonathan Adams connected for a 5-yard touchdown to get them on the board with 1:55 remaining in the second quarter. But eight plays later, Duggan found wide receiver Jahcour Pearson for a 13-yard score, giving St. Louis a 16-6 lead at halftime. No touchdowns were scored in the second half, with both teams posting one field goal apiece and the Battlehawks getting a 19-9 road victory. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Fox News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Five things to watch for in Week 7 of the 2025 UFL season
The DC Defenders have the UFL's leading passer in quarterback Jordan Ta'amu. But Ta'amu needs a consistent pass catcher to throw the ball to, and this year that has been Chris Rowland. The Tennessee State product leads the league in receiving yards (395) and is tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns (three). Rowland is also the UFL's leader in all-purpose yards (836). [MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League] At 5-foot-8 and 179 pounds, Rowland doesn't overwhelm opponents with his size or speed. Instead, he's always exactly where he needs to be on the field, serving as a security blanket for Ta'amu. Rowland finished with nine receptions for 144 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Defenders' loss to the Michigan Panthers last week. "He prepares every week the right way," Defenders interim head coach Shannon Harris said about Rowland. "He prepares his body the right way. That's why he's able to be out there and sustain a lot of playing time. When he comes out to work for practice, he understands the scheme, week in and week out. He's really good at talking back with the quarterback, Jordan, in what he's seeing, so he over communicates. He's a pro's pro." Rowland will need to be at his best this weekend as the Defenders (4-2) push towards the playoffs, hitting the road to face the San Antonio Brahmas (1-5) on Friday night (8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). Then, the Arlington Renegades (3-3) host the Panthers (4-2) on Saturday (1 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). Closing things out with a doubleheader, with the Houston Roughnecks (3-3) facing the Birmingham Stallions (4-2) — the defending champions' their third game in a row at Protective Stadium — on Sunday (noon ET), followed by the Memphis Showboats (1-5) playing host to the St. Louis Battlehawks (4-2) later that evening (3 p.m. ET). Here's a closer look at five things to watch for in Week 7: The Brahmas will stick with Hogan as the team's starting quarterback for a second straight week after he did a better job of creating explosive plays on offense in Week 6. Jarrett Guarantano will serve as the team's No. 2 quarterback, while Kellen Mond — the team's starter to begin the season — will serve as the emergency No. 3 quarterback. San Antonio is averaging a league-low 11.8 points per game and hasn't scored a touchdown in the past two games. Interim head coach Payton Pardee will continue to serve as the team's head coach this week. However, Wade Phillips said he's in better health and plans to attend his team's game this weekend in Birmingham. Phillips took a leave of absence earlier this season due to health concerns and is hopeful about returning before the end of the season. Also, San Antonio's most explosive playmaker, Anthony McFarland, has been ruled out this week with a left shoulder injury that forced him to leave last week's game early. McFarland is third in the league with 242 rushing yards. The Brahmas will also be without receivers Greg Ward Jr. (abdomen) and Mathew Sexton (hamstring). Arlington head coach Bob Stoops told reporters that Ballage, who exited the Renegades' game last week early, was placed on IR and is done for the season due to a separated shoulder that will require surgery. The Arizona State product is second in the league in rushing with 306 rushing yards and two scores. Ballage also has the longest rushing touchdown in UFL history, a 77-yard gallop for a score in Week 1. Arlington will lean on Dae Dae Hunter and De'Veon Smith to fill the void. Hunter is fifth in the UFL in rushing with 242 yards through six games. The Renegades also signed RB Tony Jones to replace Ballage on the depth chart. The Battlehawks waived Mims, a former second-round selection by the New York Jets in the 2020 NFL Draft, this week. The Baylor product totaled just five catches for 51 yards on seven targets through six games this season. With the extra roster spot, the Battlehawks brought back receiver Sam Wiglusz out of Ohio. Elsewhere, the Brahmas waived offensive lineman Greg Eiland this week, while the Roughnecks signed tight end Cam Sutton. San Antonio also executed a trade this week, picking up receiver Dee Anderson from the Showboats in exchange for cornerback Darius Phillips. In other roster news, Defenders leading sack man Andre Mintze (4.5 sacks) is out this week with a head injury. Birmingham has started three different quarterbacks so far this season and has played four over six games. With the team's top two signal callers — Alex McGough (shoulder) and Matt Corral (hip) — out again this week, head coach Skip Holtz added some much-needed depth to the position, signing Morton. The Prairie View A&M product had been playing arena football for the Southwest Kansas Storm, where he finished with 1,335 passing yards, 285 rushing yards and 34 total touchdowns. Morton is familiar with Birmingham's scheme, having served as McGough's backup during the team's legacy USFL championship run in 2023. Holtz said there's a chance that McGough could return next week, while Corral is likely out until the end of the regular season but could be available if the Stallions make the playoffs. Case Cookus is expected to get his third start of the year for the Stallions. Cookus' backup, Andrew Peasley, suffered a knee injury and has not practiced this week, so J'Mar Smith would be No. 2 behind Cookus if Peasley isn't healthy. The UFL's leader with 5.5 sacks on the year, Taumoepenu earned an appropriate nickname from his teammates. "We just call him 'The Closer,'" fellow St. Louis edge rusher Chris Garrett said about his teammate this week. Taumoepenu helped shut the door on the Renegades last week, sacking Arlington QB Luis Perez and forcing a fumble that Garrett recovered to seal the victory. He finished with two sacks, two forced fumbles and five combined tackles, earning UFL Defensive Player of the Week honors. Taumoepenu, the 2023 XFL Defensive Player of the Year, has his sights on winning that award for the UFL this season. Panthers DE Breeland Speaks won the award last year, finishing with a league-high 9.5 sacks in the regular season. Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him at @eric_d_williams. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
