The D.C. Defenders scored 26 consecutive points, including a 14-0 second quarter, to defeat the visiting Houston Roughnecks 37-26 in an XFL game on Monday night.

The Defenders improved to 6-0 behind quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, who completed 19 of 31 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns.

Abram Smith rushed 19 times for 95 yards and one score, and receivers Lucky Jackson (136 yards, one TD) and Josh Hammond (65 yards) each made five receptions.

D.C. trailed 8-0 in the first quarter, then responded with Matthew McCrane’s first of three field goals. Smith rushed 1 yard for a second-quarter score, but the conversion pass failed.

Santos Ramirez returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown, and Ta’amu and Hammond connected on the two-point conversion pass for a 17-8 Defenders advantage at halftime.

Max Borghi rushed for two short touchdowns for the Roughnecks (4-2), while Deontay Burnett pulled in four passes for 122 yards and one score.

Houston quarterbacks Cole McDonald (8 of 11, 194 yards, one TD) and Brandon Silvers (10 of 17, 111 yards, one interception) combined for 288 passing yards.

–Field Level Media