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Jordan Ta’amu threw a go-ahead 3-yard touchdown pass to Ben Bresnahan in the fourth quarter, lifting the D.C. Defenders over the Memphis Showboats 17-12 on Saturday night in Washington, D.C.

Trailing 12-9 with 8:21 left in the game, Ta’amu put the Defenders (2-0) ahead to stay with a short jump pass to Bresnahan in the end zone, then completed a 2-point conversion pass to Cornell Powell. Ta’amu was 12-of-26 passing for 152 yards.

E.J. Perry, who had put Memphis (0-2) ahead 12-9 with a 16-yard touchdown run earlier in the fourth quarter, finished 18-of-28 passing for 194 yards and an interception. Jonathan Adams caught nine of Perry’s passes for 128 yards.

The teams traded field goals for the first three quarters, with the Defenders’ Matt McCrane connecting on three kicks (22, 30 and 46 yards) and the Showboats’ Matt Coghlin hitting a pair (22 and 33 yards).

The Defenders’ Abram Smith led all rushers with 55 yards on 16 carries, while teammates Chris Rowland (three catches, 66 yards) and Ty Scott (five catches, 59 yards) led the team’s receivers. Memphis’ top runner was Deneric Prince, who compiled 44 yards on nine carries.

–Field Level Media