2020 DC Defenders season

The 2020 DC Defenders season was the first season for the DC Defenders as a professional American football franchise. They were playing as charter members of the XFL, one of eight teams to compete in the league for the 2020 season. The Defenders played their home games at Audi Field and were led by head coach Pep Hamilton.

2020 DC Defenders season
Owner	Alpha Entertainment, LLC
General manager	Pep Hamilton
Head coach	Pep Hamilton
Home stadium	Audi Field
Results
Record	3–2
League place	Tie 1st XFL East
DC Defenders seasons 2023 →

Their inaugural season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the XFL officially suspended operations for the remainder of the season on March 20, 2020.^[1]

Standings

First ever XFL kickoff between the Defenders and Seattle Dragons at Audi Field

2020 XFL standings v t e
East Division[2]
Team	W	L	PCT	TD+/-	TD+	TD-	DIV	PF	PA	DIFF	STK
DC Defenders	3	2	.600	-3	9	12	2–1	82	89	-7	W1
St. Louis Battlehawks	3	2	.600	3	11	8	1–1	97	77	20	L1
New York Guardians	3	2	.600	-1	8	9	1–2	79	85	-6	W2
Tampa Bay Vipers	1	4	.200	-4	11	15	1–1	98	115	-17	L1
West Division[2]
Team	W	L	PCT	TD+/-	TD+	TD-	DIV	PF	PA	DIFF	STK
Houston Roughnecks	5	0	1.000	7	21	14	3–0	158	111	47	W5
Dallas Renegades	2	3	.400	-3	9	12	2–1	90	102	-12	L2
Los Angeles Wildcats	2	3	.400	4	18	14	0–2	129	122	7	W1
Seattle Dragons	1	4	.200	-3	12	15	0–2	87	119	-32	L3
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (y)–clinched conference; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention

Schedule

All times Eastern

Week	Day	Date	Kickoff	TV	Opponent	Results		Location
						Score	Record
1	Saturday	February 8	2:00 p.m.	ABC	Seattle Dragons	W 31–19	1–0	Audi Field
2	Saturday	February 15	2:00 p.m.	ABC	New York Guardians	W 27–0	2–0	Audi Field
3	Sunday	February 23	6:00 p.m.	FS1	at Los Angeles Wildcats	L 9–39	2–1	Dignity Health Sports Park
4	Sunday	March 1	7:00 p.m.	ESPN2	at Tampa Bay Vipers	L 0–25	2–2	Raymond James Stadium
5	Sunday	March 8	3:00 p.m.	FS1	St. Louis BattleHawks	W 15–6	3–2	Audi Field
6	Sunday	March 15	4:00 p.m.	FS1	Dallas Renegades	Not played		Audi Field
7	Sunday	March 22	6:00 p.m.	FS1	at Houston Roughnecks			TDECU Stadium
8	Saturday	March 28	2:00 p.m.	ABC	Tampa Bay Vipers			Audi Field
9	Saturday	April 4	2:00 p.m.	ABC	at New York Guardians			MetLife Stadium
10	Sunday	April 12	2:00 p.m.	ABC	at St. Louis BattleHawks			The Dome at America's Center

^[3]

Final roster

2020 DC Defenders final roster

	Quarterbacks 11 C. J. Collins  3 Tyree Jackson 12 Cardale Jones Running backs 32 Khalid Abdullah 31 Nick Brossette 26 Jhurell Pressley 24 Donnel Pumphrey Wide receivers 10 Simmie Cobbs 19 Malachi Dupre  5 Deion Holliman 16 Tyler Palka  4 Eli Rogers 15 Rashad Ross  9 Jalen Rowell  1 DeAndre Thompkins Tight ends 80 Donnie Ernsberger 85 Derrick Hayward 86 Khari Lee		Offensive linemen 69 Cole Boozer T 75 Chris Brown G 78 Malcolm Bunche T 74 Rishard Cook G 62 Randall Harris T 70 Terronne Prescod G -- Bunchy Stallings G 72 Logan Tuley-Tillman T 79 De'Ondre Wesley T Defensive linemen 90 Siupeli Anau DE 98 Daryle Banfield NT 91 Tavaris Barnes DE 95 Kenny Bigelow DE 96 Jay Bromley DE 92 Elijah Qualls NT 93 Tracy Sprinkle DE 94 Kalani Vakameilalo NT		Linebackers 52 Jonathan Celestin ILB 56 KeShun Freeman OLB 97 Anthony Johnson OLB 54 Jonathan Massaquoi OLB 99 Sam Montgomery OLB 59 A. J. Tarpley ILB 53 Jameer Thurman ILB 58 Scooby Wright ILB Defensive backs 28 Elijah Campbell CB 44 Reggie Cole 21 Doran Grant CB 37 Deion Harris CB 23 Josh Jenkins CB 29 Tyree Kinnel SS 25 Desmond Lawrence CB 20 Carlos Merritt FS 45 Rahim Moore SS 38 Shamarko Thomas FS 27 Josh Thornton CB Special teams 42 Brian Khoury LS  7 Hunter Niswander P  2 Tyler Rausa K		Reserve lists 77 James O'Hagan C (IR) 64 Jon Toth C (IR) 57 active, 2 inactive

Staff

2020 DC Defenders staff

Front office President – Erik Moses Director of player personnel – Greg Gabriel Manager of Football Operations/Scout – Jeff Bauer Head coaches Head coach/general manager – Pep Hamilton Assistant – Brent Battle Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/Running backs – Tanner Engstrand Quarterbacks – Ted White Receivers – Bob Saunders Run game coordinator/Offensive line/Tight ends – Chris Scelfo

Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator/Secondary – Louie Cioffi Defensive line – Ray Hamilton Linebackers – Kurt Gouveia Defensive assistant – Mike Gillhamer Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator/Cornerbacks – Steve Wilson

Season summary

During the first two weeks of the XFL season, the Defenders got off to a hot start, beating the Seattle Dragons in the first XFL game by a score of 31–19 at home, and dominating the New York Guardians at home 27–0. However, Cardale Jones and the Defenders got into a slump the next two weeks, falling to 2-2 and losing back to back games on the road; first to the Los Angeles Wildcats 39–9, and then to the Tampa Bay Vipers 25–0. The Defenders were able to rebound in week 5 thanks to Tyree Jackson, winning against the St. Louis Battlehawks at home 15-6 and improving their record to 3-2 before the XFL officially suspended operations 12 days later.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Seattle Dragons

Week 1 — Seattle at DC

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Dragons	6	7	6	0	19
Defenders	3	9	13	6	31

at Audi Field, Washington, D.C.

• Date: Saturday, February 8
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 43 °F (6 °C) • Wind: SW 7 mph
• Game attendance: 17,163
• Referee: Reggie Smith^[4]
• TV announcers (ABC): Steve Levy (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Tom Luginbill and Dianna Russini (sideline)

Game information

First quarter DC – Tyler Rausa 34-yard field goal, 7:20. Defenders 3–0. Drive: 13 plays, 63 yards, 5:49. SEA – Austin Proehl 14-yard pass from Brandon Silvers (1-pt. failed), 4:25. Dragons 6–3. Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards, 2:55. Second quarter DC – Jonathan Celestin recovered blocked punt in end zone (2-pt. failed), 6:56. Defenders 9–6 SEA – Brandon Silvers 13-yard pass to Trey Williams (1-pt. good), 0:20. Dragons 13–9. Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 2:11. DC – Tyler Rausa 54-yard field goal, 0:00. Dragons 13–12. Drive: 4 plays, 8 yards, 0:20. Third quarter DC – Khari Lee 39-yard pass from Cardale Jones (1-pt. good), 12:07. Defenders 19–13. Drive: 6 plays, 78 yards, 3:04. SEA – Austin Proehl 57-yard pass from Brandon Silvers (1-pt. failed), 10:42. Tied 19–19. Drive: 3 plays, 67 yards, 1:28. DC – Rashad Ross 31-yard pass from Cardale Jones (1-pt. failed), 1:45. Defenders 25–19. Drive: 5 plays, 55 yards, 2:35. Fourth quarter DC – Bradley Sylve 69-yard interception return (1-pt. failed), 12:55. Defenders 31–19. Top passers SEA – Brandon Silvers – 21/40, 217 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT DC – Cardale Jones – 16/26, 291 yards, 2 TD Top rushers SEA – Kenneth Farrow – 7 carries, 41 yards DC – Cardale Jones – 6 carries, 33 yards Top receivers SEA – Austin Proehl – 5 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TD DC – Eli Rogers – 6 receptions, 73 yards

This was the first-ever XFL game, and the Defenders would have the first score (although Seattle had the first touchdown) and the first win of the XFL.

Week 2: vs. New York Guardians

Week 2 — New York at DC

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Guardians	0	0	0	0	0
Defenders	6	6	6	9	27

at Audi Field, Washington, D.C.

• Date: Saturday, February 15
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: Partly cloudy • Temperature: 36 °F (2 °C) • Wind: S 9 mph
• Game attendance: 15,031
• Referee: John O'Neill^[5]
• TV announcers (ABC): Steve Levy (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Tom Luginbill and Dianna Russini (sideline)

Game information

First quarter DC – DeAndre Thompkins 13-yard pass from Cardale Jones (1-pt. failed), 7:09. Defenders 6–0. Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 6:09. Second quarter DC – Tyler Rausa 27-yard field goal, 11:19. Defenders 9–0. Drive: 13 plays, 51 yards, 7:31. DC – Tyler Rausa 36-yard field goal, 0:30. Defenders 12–0. Drive: 5 plays, 43 yards, 0:49. Third quarter DC – Jameer Thurman 46-yard interception return (1-pt. failed), 10:07. Defenders 18–0. Fourth quarter DC – Tyler Rausa 26-yard field goal, 7:22. Defenders 21–0. Drive: 13 plays, 54 yards, 7:28. DC – Derrick Hayward 6-yard pass from Cardale Jones (3-pt. failed), 1:29. Defenders 27–0. Drive: 5 plays, 49 yards, 1:57. Top passers NY – Marquise Williams – 4/8, 51 yards DC – Cardale Jones – 23/37, 276 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers NY – Tim Cook III – 10 rushes, 39 yards DC – Donnel Pumphrey – 12 rushes, 53 yards Top receivers NY – Mekale McKay – 3 receptions, 30 yards DC – Rashad Ross – 4 receptions, 95 yards

In the fourth quarter, the Defenders tried for a three-point conversion, the first three-point attempt in the XFL.^[6]

Week 3: at Los Angeles Wildcats

Week 3 – DC at Los Angeles

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Defenders	0	3	0	6	9
Wildcats	6	21	6	6	39

at Dignity Health Sports Park, Los Angeles, CA

• Date: Sunday, February 23
• Game time: 6:00 p.m. EST / 3:00 p.m. PST
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 65 °F (18 °C) • Wind: N 3 mph
• Referee: Tra Blake^[7]
• TV announcers (FS1): Curt Menefee (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst), Jenny Taft (sideline)

Game information

First quarter LA – Tre McBride 40-yard pass from Josh Johnson (2-pt. failed), 12:27. Wildcats 6–0. Drive: 5 plays, 71 yards, 2:50. Second quarter LA – Larry Rose 1-yard rush (2-pt. good), 14:24. Wildcats 14–0. Drive: 5 plays, 28 yards, 2:20. LA – Tre McBride 28-yard pass from Josh Johnson (1-pt. failed), 8:47. Wildcats 20–0. Drive: 7 plays, 42 yards, 3:19. LA – Martez Carter 1-yard rush (1-pt. good), 4:48. Wildcats 27–0. Drive: 2 plays, 4 yards, 0:32. DC – Tyler Rausa 32-yard field goal, 0:30. Wildcats 27–3. Drive: 7 plays, 34 yards, 0:56. Third quarter LA – Martez Carter 18-yard pass from Josh Johnson (1-pt. failed), 6:45. Wildcats 33–3. Drive: 7 plays, 96 yards, 2:47. Fourth quarter LA – Martez Carter 20-yard rush (1-pt. failed), 11:39. Wildcats 39–3. Drive: 7 plays, 94 yards, 3:45. DC – Nick Brosette 38-yard rush (3-pt. failed), 7:33. Wildcats 39–9. Drive: 8 plays, 70 yards, 4:08. Top passers DC – Cardale Jones – 13/26, 103 yards, 4 INT LA – Josh Johnson – 18/25, 278 yards, 3 TD Top rushers DC – Nick Brosette – 8 carries, 75 yards, TD LA – Martez Carter – 11 carries, 34 yards, 2 TD Top receivers DC – Khari Lee – 3 receptions, 38 yards LA – Tre McBride – 5 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TD

Week 4: at Tampa Bay Vipers

Week 4 — DC at Tampa Bay

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Defenders	0	0	0	0	0
Vipers	7	9	6	3	25

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

• Date: Sunday, March 1
• Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: Mostly cloudy • Temperature: 60 °F (16 °C) • Wind: NNE 3 mph
• Referee: Jeff Heaser^[8]
• TV announcers (ESPN2): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Joey Galloway (analyst), Pat McAfee (sideline)

Game information

First quarter TB – Jacques Patrick 8-yard rush (1-pt. good), 8:43. Vipers 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:29. Second quarter TB – DeAndre Goolsby 13-yard pass from Taylor Cornelius (1-pt. failed), 13:41. Vipers 13–0. Drive: 15 plays, 75 yards, 6:48. TB – Andrew Franks 40–yard field goal, 3:45. Vipers 16–0. Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 4:46. Third quarter TB – Taylor Cornelius 17-yard rush (2-pt. failed), 4:36. Vipers 22–0. Drive: 3 plays, 23 yards, 1:05. Fourth quarter TB – Andrew Franks 26-yard field goal, 10:17. Vipers 25–0. Drive: 17 plays, 71 yards, 7:22. Top passers DC – Cardale Jones – 9/22, 72 yards, INT TB – Taylor Cornelius – 24/31, 211 yards, TD, INT Top rushers DC – Donnel Pumphrey – 7 carries, 34 yards TB – De'Veon Smith – 24 carries, 122 yards Top receivers DC – Donnel Pumphrey – 3 receptions, 32 yards TB – Daniel Williams – 7 receptions, 72 yards

Week 5: vs. St. Louis BattleHawks

Week 5 — St. Louis at DC

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
BattleHawks	3	3	0	0	6
Defenders	6	0	6	3	15

at Audi Field, Washington, D.C.

• Date: Sunday, March 8
• Game time: 5:00 p.m. EST
• Referee: John O'Neill^[9]
• TV announcers (FS1): Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst)

Game information

First quarter STL - Taylor Russolino 35-yard field goal, 3:11. BattleHawks 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 53 yards, 5:21. DC - Khari Lee 9-yard pass from Tyree Jackson (1-pt. failed), 1:02. Defenders 6–3. Drive: 5 plays, 45 yards, 2:09. Second quarter STL - Taylor Russolino 40-yard field goal, 9:53. Tied 6–6. Drive: 13 plays, 63 yards, 6:08. Third quarter DC – Tyler Rausa 52-yard field goal, 10:14. Defenders 9–6. Drive: 5 plays, 26 yards, 2:46. DC – Tyler Rausa 50-yard field goal, 3:25. Defenders 12–6. Drive: 7 plays, 39 yards, 3:21. Fourth quarter DC – Tyler Rausa 22-yard field goal, 3:36. Defenders 15–6. Drive: 4 plays, 0 yards, 1:55. Top passers STL – Jordan Ta'amu – 15/25, 174 yards DC – Tyree Jackson – 9/14, 39 yards, TD Top rushers STL – Matt Jones – 13 carries, 72 yards DC – Jhurell Pressley - 15 carries, 107 yards Top receivers STL – L'Damian Washington – 5 receptions, 114 yards DC – Khari Lee – 3 receptions, 14 yards, TD