Chase Garbers threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another, and punter Brad Wing passed for a score as the host San Antonio Brahmas downed the D.C. Defenders 27-12 in their United Football League debuts on Sunday.
Garbers completed 19 of 25 passes for 158 yards, including TDs of 28 yards to Anthony McFarland Jr. and 4 yards to Jontre Kirklin in the first half. Garbers also completed the scoring with his 5-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. That drive was set up by cornerback Darius Phillips’ 88-yard interception return.
Wing found center Alex Mollette on a trick play on fourth down for a 40-yard TD pass with 3 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Defenders (0-1) responded with Matthew McCrane’s four field goals of 50, 34, 48 and 28 yards.
D.C. had its lone touchdown — Jordan Ta’amu’s 8-yard pass to Keke Coutee — negated by a false-start penalty in the fourth quarter after the Brahmas challenged the play. Ta’amu finished 25 of 45 for 235 yards and the interception to Phillips on the series involving the erased TD.
–Field Level Media