Battlehawks destroy DC Hex in emphatic 45-12 victory

April 28, 2024 – United Football League (UFL)
St. Louis Battlehawks news story

The St. Louis Battlehawks extended their winning streak to a franchise-best four games on Sunday with a 45-12 victory over the XFL Conference rival DC Defenders in front of 16,058 fans at Audi Field in Washington, DC. 1) defense and special teams gave the offense possession inside the defensemen’s territory (2-3) for seven of nine scoring plays in a 33-point win, which was the largest margin in team history. The victory also keeps the Battlehawks tied with the San Antonio Brahmas (4-1) halfway through the regular season.

The Battlehawks’ defense delivered a second-half shutout for the second straight week, while the offense put up a franchise-record 25 points in the fourth quarter. RBs Wayne Gallman II and Jacob Saylors each had their team-leading second rushing touchdowns of the season, and QB Manny Wilkins scored his first rushing touchdown of the year. QB AJ McCarron also hit WR Hakeem Butler on an 80-yard touchdown pass, which was the longest passing play in team history and the longest play of any kind in the UFL this season. He also caught a 13-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring with 8:07 left in the first quarter. Butler finished with 147 receiving yards, the most by a Battlehawks player this season. K Andre Szmyt contributed with a franchise-record four made field goals. He produced the first points of the second half on a 39-yard field goal with 1:20 left in the third quarter, pushing the Battlehawks’ advantage to 20-12.

The Battlehawks defense had a season-high scoreless streak of 59:03 dating back to Week 4 vs. Memphis when defensemen scored RB Cam’Ron Harris on a 1-yard rush with 1:14 left in the first half that led the St. Louis to 17-6. DC scored again with 7 seconds left in the half on a 15-yard touchdown catch by Kelvin Harmon from QB Jordan Ta’amu, which cut the Battlehawks’ lead to five points.

St. Louis had initially built a 17-0 lead with Butler’s first touchdown and three field goals by Szmyt, including a game-high, 51-yarder that gave the Battlehawks a 14-0 lead with 45 seconds left in the first quarter.

In total, the Battlehawks made three interceptions, two blocked punts, recovered a fumble and had two turnovers on downs. The defensive unit held DC to 163 yards, the fewest among defenders on the season. The Battlehawks return home for Week 6 to take on the Houston Roughnecks of the USFL Conference at The Dome at America’s Center on Saturday, May 4 at 2:00 PM CT. The game will be broadcast on FOX and simulcast on FOX Sports on SiriusXM Radio.

Postgame Notes – Week 5

April 28, 2024 – St. Louis Battlehawks (4-1) at DC Defenders (2-3)

Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total

STL 14 3 3 25 45

Direct current 0 12 0 0 12

The Battlehawks won by a team-record 33 points before a 25-point, 53-28 victory in Week 10 of 2023 against Orlando.

St. Louis scored a franchise-record 25 points in the fourth quarter, the most in any quarter, before 22 points in the second quarter of 2023, Week 10 versus Orlando.

QB AJ McCarron went 14-for-24 with 213 passing yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He has a 10-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio this season.

WR Hakeem Butler made a career-high 80-yard touchdown reception with 9:00 left in the fourth quarter for the longest passing play in team history and the longest play of any kind in the UFL this season. He finished with a season-high two touchdowns and 147 receiving yards, the most by a Battlehawks player this season.

â— LB Pita Taumoepenu registered 2.0 sacks, matching his most in a game this season (also: Week 2 vs. ARL), including a strip sack on the first play of the fourth quarter. He leads the team with 4.0 sacks for the season.

LB Mike Rose intercepted his team-leading second pass of the season (also: Week 1 at Michigan) with 8:29 left in the fourth quarter.

â— FS Nico Bolden blocked St. Louis’ first kick of the season with 5:54 left in the first quarter of his Battlehawks debut. St. Louis signed Bolden as a free agent on Monday.

LB Chris Garrett blocked his first kick of the season and had four solo tackles on the season.

SS Kameron Kelly recorded his first pick of the season with 2:59 left in the first quarter.

CB Brandon Sebastian made his first interception of the season to end DC’s first offensive drive. He led the Battlehawks with three interceptions in 2023.

K Andre Szmyt set a career and franchise single-game record with four field goals, surpassing his previous record of three in Week 3 in San Antonio.

â— WR Blake Jackson returned his first punt of the season 58 yards on the first play of the game. It was the second-longest kick return by a Battlehawks player this season, trailing just a 60-yard return by WR Darrius Shepherd in Week 4 against Memphis.

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