The D.C. Defenders backed up their regular-season results in the XFL playoffs on Sunday. The Houston Roughnecks couldn’t do that on Saturday.

Under former Alabama State wide receiver and coach Reggie Barlow, D.C. entered the postseason with the league’s best record at 9-1 and dispatched North Division runner-up Seattle 37-21 to advance to the XFL championship game.

Houston finished at the top of the South Division standings, three games ahead of the Arlington Renegades. But after posting a 4-6 regular-season record (including two losses to the Roughnecks) and scoring the fewest points in the league during the regular season, the Renegades upended the Roughnecks 26-11.

The Defenders and Renegades will square off in the XFL Championship Game at 7 p.m. CDT May 13 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. ABC will televise the game.

Playing in his fourth game for Arlington since being traded by the Vegas Vipers, former Birmingham Iron QB Luis Perez completed 19-of-27 passes for 289 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions as the Renegades offense rolled up 419 yards – 194 more than Houston had.

Arlington wide receiver JaVonta Payton had five receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns, including a 59-yard score. Renegades running back De’Veon Smith rushed for 94 yards on 24 carries.

In Washington, the Defenders scored on their first three second-half possessions to pull away from a 9-9 halftime tie with the Sea Dragons, who punted on their first three second-half possessions.

Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu completed 19-of-31 passes for 258 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for D.C., which got eight first downs off Seattle penalties.

Seattle quarterback Ben DiNucci completed 31-of-48 passes for 295 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. The Sea Dragons had only five rushing attempts for 13 yards in the game.

Players from Alabama high schools and colleges in the XFL’s playoffs included:

Arlington Renegades 26, Houston Roughnecks 11

· Roughnecks offensive lineman Ja’Chai Baker (South Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.

· T.J. Barnes (Enterprise) started at defensive tackle for the Renegades. Barnes made one tackle.

· Renegades tight end Sal Cannella (Auburn) caught two passes for 18 yards.

· Renegades cornerback Javaris Davis (Auburn) was designated as a game-day inactive.

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

· Roughnecks kicker Austin Jones (Alabama) made 32-yard field goal with 5:32 left in the third quarter to cut the Renegades’ lead to 23-11.

· Davonte Lambert (Auburn) started at defensive end for the Renegades. Lambert made two tackles.

· Brandon Silvers (Gulf Shores, Troy) started at quarterback for the Roughnecks. Silvers completed 3-of-6 passes for 22 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions and had a 6-yard run. After Houston was stopped on downs at the Renegades 34-yard line and punted on its first two possessions, the Roughnecks went with Cole McDonald at quarterback for the remainder of the game. Silvers had not played in two of the previous three games after sustaining an elbow injury. McDonald completed 9-of-25 passes for 82 yards with no touchdowns and one interception and ran for 47 yards on seven carries.

· Roughnecks offensive lineman John Yarbrough (Homewood) did not record any stats.

D.C. Defenders 37, Sea Dragons 21

· Defenders long snapper/tight end Trae Barry (Spanish Fort, Jacksonville State) handled the snaps on one field goal and one punt.

· Defenders linebacker Jamal Brooks (Bessemer City, South Alabama) made one tackle.

· Sea Dragons long snapper Thomas Fletcher (Alabama) handled the snaps on one field goal and five punts.

· Defenders quarterback Geremy Hickbottom (Williamson) was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Chris Owens (Alabama) started at right guard for the Sea Dragons

· Sea Dragons wide receiver Kelvin McKnight (Samford) caught two passes for 17 yards and returned four punts for 71 yards.

· Sea Dragons wide receiver Jordan Veasy (Gadsden City) caught six passes for 61 yards.

· Sea Dragons wide receiver Damion Willis (Troy) was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Defenders defensive tackle Gabe Wright (Auburn) did not record any stats.

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