ST. LOUIS – Former James Madison standouts Liam Fornadel and Sam Kidd were crowned champions of the United Football League, as the DC Defenders won the 2025 UFL Championship Game with a 58-34 victory over the Michigan Panthers inside The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis.
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Fornadel and Kidd became the first set of former JMU football players to win a modern era spring football title.
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Fornadel was starting right guard for the Defenders, as the offense racked up 580 total yards, including 390 through the air to set a UFL scoring record, becoming the first team in league history to surpass 50 points in a game.
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Kidd missed the title game due to being put on injured reserve in late May, but he played in four games this spring, registering an interception, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
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Also making the UFL Championship Game with Michigan was former JMU defensive lineman Ron'Dell Carter, who started on the Panthers' defensive line and made a pair of tackles.
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