St. Louis Battlehawks Swag (Photo by the St. Louis Battlehawks and the UFL)
St. Louis drops their final regular-season game to Dallas
St. Louis 16, Dallas 20
Despite having a home playoff game secured, St. Louis didn’t rest their starters in their home regular-season finale against Dallas. Ramiz Ahmed would get St. Louis on the scoreboard first with a 45-yard field goal. The Battlehawks would lead 3-0. Dallas quarterback Austin Reed would respond with a Renegades touchdown pass. St. Louis would score again, powered by a big play from MVP candidate Hakeem Butler.
Powered by Butler’s 56-yard catch, Ahmed would get another field goal. This one was from 32 yards out. But in a pattern that would become the theme and story of the game, Dallas would answer a Ramiz Ahmed field goal with an Austin Reed touchdown pass. Dallas would take a 13-6 lead going into halftime.
Second Half
St. Louis looked poised to take over the game, fueled by their homefield advantage in the Battledome. Luis Perez would connect with James Bostic, who would then plow his way into the endzone. This would be the lone score by either team in the third quarter, and Dallas and St. Louis would head to the fourth, tied, 13-13.
A Battlehawks field goal in the fourth quarter would break the deadlock. A 46-yarder by Ahmed would give St. Louis the 16-13 lead. By like, every other field goal St. Louis made, Dallas would answer it with an Austin Reed touchdown pass. The 20-16 lead would hold for Dallas, and the Renegades would end the season with a win. St. Louis will head to the playoffs on the heels of a home loss.
Playoff Bound
Despite the loss at home, St. Louis is still holding a lot of good cards. They’re a playoff lock and will have a game in the Battledome. St. Louis has maybe the best homefield advantage in the UFL, and it will be their ace, no matter who they’re battling. They also have the best defense in the UFL, and after giving up three Austin Reed touchdown passes, they’ll be playing with a fire that can carry them to wins.
St. Louis also has an MVP candidate at wide receiver in Hakeem Butler. Quarterback Luis Perez has had some turnover troubles this season, but working to get Butler going is always a good thing. They also have the league’s leading rusher in Jarveon Howard. St. Louis will look to shake off their postseason woes, and they’ll have the weapons to do it.
