By Zachary McMahon-
The DC Defenders traveled to Detroit to face the Michigan Panthers at Ford Field on Sunday afternoon. The Defenders won against the Arlington Renegades and the Panthers lost against the St. Louis Battlehawks last week.
The Defenders started out on offense but could not convert on fourth down, so the Panthers took the ball and took a 11-play drive for Toa Taua to score a rushing touchdown to make it 7-0.
On the next drive Jordan Ta’amu passed to Braylon Sanders for a 16-yard touchdown in the second quarter, but their two-point conversion was no good, as they were down 7-6 to the Panthers.
Bryce Perkins then passed to Cole Hikutini for a 35-yard touchdown that made it 14-6, and then B.T. Potter made a 45-yard field goal to end the first half with a 17-6 lead.
After Noah McCreary’s touchdown run for the Panthers, Ta’amu passed to Chris Rowland for a 65-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Then Perkins had a rushing and passing touchdown to close the game at a 38-14 victory against the Defenders.;
Ta’amu had 259 passing yards with two touchdowns, while Perkins had 188 passing yards and 76 rushing yards with three total touchdowns.
Rowland led the Defenders with nine receptions and 144 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Taua led the Panthers on 19 carries and 94 yards, in a season high, and he had a rushing touchdown in his last three games.
The Defenders will play on Friday night at 8 p.m. against the San Antonio Brahmas on FOX, while the Panthers will play the Renegades on Saturday at 1pm.
Sports Insider Daily 