FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Renegades are learning how to win in different ways — and that trend continued Sunday.
Behind timely defense and a balanced offensive effort, Dallas held off a late surge from Columbus to secure a 28-23 victory, improving to 3-0 and cementing one of the strongest starts in UFL history.
Quarterback Jalan McClendon kept Columbus within striking distance all game, completing 26 of 34 passes for two touchdowns while spreading the ball to nine different targets. He added 24 yards on the ground but was undone by two costly interceptions that shifted momentum.
Dallas capitalized on those mistakes.
Cornerback Shaun Wade delivered one of the game’s defining moments late in the first half, jumping a pass and flipping it backward to Ajene Harris, who raced down the sideline for a defensive touchdown. Safety Tra Fluellen added another interception later, setting up a quick scoring drive that gave Dallas control.
Offensively, the Renegades leaned on efficiency over explosiveness. Quarterback Austin Reed finished 18 of 30 for 147 yards and two touchdowns, distributing passes to nine receivers and keeping Columbus’ defense guessing throughout the afternoon.
Dae Dae Hunter provided the spark on the ground, rushing 11 times for 62 yards and a score, while also contributing in key moments during Dallas’ sustained drives.
Reed found Deontay Burnett and Emmanuel Butler for touchdowns, continuing a trend of spreading production across multiple playmakers. Tyler Vaughns remained his most reliable target, leading the team for the third straight game with five receptions for 41 yards.
Columbus made things interesting late.
McClendon engineered a pair of scoring drives in the second half, including a touchdown connection with Antwane Wells, who finished with four catches for 43 yards. Running back John Lovett added impact both on the ground and through the air, accounting for two total touchdowns.
Despite the late push, Dallas’ defense held firm in the closing minutes, shutting down Columbus’ final opportunity to complete the comeback.
With the win, the Renegades become just the fourth team in league history to open a season 3-0 — and they’ll get a quick test of their momentum with a rematch against Columbus looming next week.
