United Football League Week 7 roundup: Former Auburn guard catches TD pass for DC Defenders
The improbable endings of the United Football League‘s Week 7 games included a touchdown pass caught by a former Auburn guard with 1:55 remaining, a touchdown and 1-point conversion with no time left on the clock and a 12-point outburst in the first 20 seconds after the two-minute warning to complete the biggest comeback in league history.
In the UFL’s Week 7 games:
- DC quarterback Jordan Ta’amu threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns, including one to former Auburn guard Gunner Britton, in the Defenders’ 32-24 victory over the San Antonio Brahmas on Friday night. DC tied the score at 12-12 at halftime when inside linebacker Anthony Hines III returned a fumble 51 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the second quarter. San Antonio running back Jashaun Corbin ran for 109 yards on nine carries, including a 57-yard touchdown with 9:27 to play. But the Defenders stopped the 2-point conversion try to stay in front 25-24 before getting the TD pass to Britton.
- Michigan running back Toa Taua followed a 1-yard touchdown run as time expired with a 1-point conversion run to lift the Panthers to a 25-24 victory over the Arlington Renegades on Saturday. Renegades quarterback Luis Perez threw for 314 yards, including 127 to wide receiver Tyler Vaughns on nine receptions, and had two fourth-quarter touchdown passes. Between those TDs, Michigan QB Bryce Perkins had a 12-yard touchdown pass and a 3-point conversion throw.
- Using their fifth quarterback this season, the Birmingham Stallions rallied for a 33-25 victory over the Houston Roughnecks on Sunday. On the field for the first time this season, quarterback J’Mar Smith scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:55 to play, and when Houston fumbled the following kickoff, Birmingham scored again in the largest comeback in UFL history. The Roughnecks had a 25-6 lead until Birmingham’s Case Cookus threw a touchdown pass to tight end Jace Sternberger with three seconds left in the first half. Cookus became the third Stallions starting QB to leave a game and not return this season when he went out in the fourth quarter.
- St. Louis converted two of its 10 third-down snaps and was outgained by 16 yards, but the Battlehawks still beat the Memphis Showboats 19-9 on Sunday. The Showboats were 0-of-3 on fourth-down snaps. St. Louis quarterback Max Duggan had a touchdown pass and a touchdown run.
The outcomes left DC and St. Louis tied on top of the XFL Conference and Birmingham and Michigan tied on top of the USFL Conference with three weeks remaining in the regular season. Each of those teams has a 5-2 record and could clinch a playoff berth in Week 8, even though the Battlehawks and Stallions play each other.
In the UFL’s Week 7 games, 18 players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field:
DC Defenders 32, San Antonio Brahmas 24
Brahmas wide receiver Dee Anderson (Alabama A&M) did not record any stats. Anderson joined San Antonio on Monday in a trade with the Showboats.
Defenders long snapper/tight end Trae Barry (Spanish Fort, Jacksonville State) handled the snaps on four punts and made one tackle on special teams.
Defenders offensive lineman Gunner Britton (Auburn) caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jordan Ta’amu with 1:55 left to play as DC expanded a one-point lead to its final margin of victory. Britton lined up as a tight end on the play.
Brahmas defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs (Alabama) made two tackles and recorded one sack.
Tykeem Doss (Aliceville) started at left guard for the Defenders.
Arlington Renegades tight end Sal Cannella stretches the football across the goal line during a United Football League game against the Michigan Panthers on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas.(Photo by Ron Jenkins/UFL/Getty Images)
Michigan Panthers 25, Arlington Renegades 24
Sal Cannella (Auburn) started for the Renegades. Cannella had six receptions for 92 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown with 2:01 to play that gave Arlington a 24-18 lead.
Panthers offensive tackle Cam Carter (Minor) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Panthers outside linebacker De’Gabriel Floyd (Alabama A&M) is on the injured list and not eligible to play.
Garrett Marino (UAB) started at defensive tackle for the Panthers. Marino recorded one tackle for loss.
Panthers defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth (Murphy) made two tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.
Birmingham Stallions 33, Houston Roughnecks 25
Roughnecks middle linebacker Christopher Allen (Alabama) made one tackle.
Deonte Brown (Austin, Alabama) started at right guard for the Stallions.
Stallions cornerback Shyheim Carter (Alabama) made two tackles.
Keenan Isaac (Midfield, Alabama State) started at cornerback for the Roughnecks. Isaac made five tackles.
Roughnecks center Avery Jones (Auburn) dressed for the game but did not play.
Stallions long snapper William Mote (Spain Park) handled the snaps on three field goals and two punts.
Roughnecks punter Mike Rivers (Troy) averaged 45.5 yards on four punts. Rivers had a 47-yard punt returned 8 yards to the Birmingham 36-yard line, a 44-yarder returned 13 yards to the Birmingham 23, a 32-yarder returned 2 yards to the Birmingham 9 and a 59-yarder for a touchback.
Stallions guard Lachavious Simmons (Selma) is on the injured list and not eligible to play.
Stallions wide receiver Austin Watkins (UAB) was designated as a game-day inactive.
Stallions wide receiver Marlon Williams (McGill-Toolen) had a 45-yard reception on the first snap of the second half.
St. Louis Battlehawks 19, Memphis Showboats 9
Eric Garror (McGill-Toolen) started at cornerback for the Showboats. Garror made three tackles.
Showboats wide receiver Eli Stove (Auburn) had two receptions for 26 yards.
Jay Jay Wilson (Auburn) started at tight end for the Showboats. Wilson did not record any stats.
In Week 8 of the UFL season (all times Central):
- The Showboats (1-6) and Brahmas (1-6) play at 7 p.m. Friday at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. FOX will televise the game.
- The Stallions (5-2) and Battlehawks (5-2) play at noon Saturday at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. FOX will televise the game.
- The Panthers (5-2) and the Roughnecks (3-4) play at noon Saturday at TDECU Stadium in Houston.
- The Renegades (3-4) and Defenders (5-2) play at 11 a.m. Sunday at Audi Field in Washington. ABC will televise the game.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.