The Arlington Renegades posted a 4-6 record in the XFL’s regular season. They got into the playoffs because the San Antonio Brahmas and Orlando Guardians were even worse than they were.

On Saturday night, the Renegades played like the best team in the XFL and beat the D.C. Defenders 35-26 in the league’s championship game.

Under former Alabama State wide receiver and coach Reggie Barlow, the Defenders had a 9-1 regular-season record – the best in the XFL by two games – with the lone loss coming by one point. D.C. advanced to the title game with a 37-21 victory over the Seattle Sea Dragons, a 7-3 team.

But the Arlington team that beat the Defenders wasn’t the same one that went 4-6. After being acquired from the Vegas Vipers via an in-season trade, quarterback Luis Perez started the final three games of the regular season and the 26-11 upset of the Houston Roughnecks in the playoffs for the Renegades.

On Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Perez completed 26-of-36 passes for 288 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Arlington running back Leddie Brown didn’t score a touchdown during the regular season, but he became the only XFL player this year with a touchdown run and a touchdown reception in the same game on Saturday night.

Renegades tight end Sal Cannella also hadn’t scored a touchdown this season even though he finished sixth in the league in receptions. The former Auburn standout opened the scoring in the championship game with a 41-yard reception with 10:58 left in the first half.

For the Defenders, quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, the XFL Offensive Player of the Year, completed 16-of-30 passes for 245 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptons. Ta’amu threw three interceptions during the entire regular season.

D.C. running back Abram Smith, the XFL’s leading rusher, ran for 90 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. He scored on the Defenders’ last possession of the first half and first possession of the second half, the latter TD coming on a 52-yard run to cut Arlington’s lead to 20-12. But even though Ta’amu threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Josh Hammond in the third quarter, D.C. never caught up after falling behind 17-0.

Players from Alabama high schools and colleges involved in the championship game included:

· Renegades defensive lineman T.J. Barnes (Enterprise) made two tackles and recorded one sack.

· Defenders long snapper/tight end Trae Barry (Spanish Fort, Jacksonville State) handled the snaps on three punts.

· Defenders linebacker Jamal Brooks (Bessemer City, South Alabama) made four tackles.

· Renegades tight end Sal Cannella (Auburn) had four receptions for 71 yards and one touchdown. Cannella’s 41-yard touchdown reception was his longest of the year.

· Renegades cornerback Javaris Davis (Auburn) did not record any stats.

· Defenders quarterback Geremy Hickbottom (Williamson) did not record any stats.

· Mike Horton (Auburn) started at left guard for the Renegades.

· Renegades defensive end Davonte Lambert (Auburn) did not record any stats.

· Defenders defensive tackle Gabe Wright (Auburn) made three tackles.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.