St. Louis Battlehawks Quarterback Max Duggan (14) Photo by the St. Louis Battlehawks and the UFL
The St. Louis Battlehawks blew the San Antonio Brahmas out on Friday night, winning their fifth straight game.
St. Louis Battlehawks 39, San Antonio Brahmas 13
The Battlehawks secured their spot in the XFL Conference Championship last week. Knowing they already have a game with the Washington D.C. Defenders for a trip to the championship game, the Battlehawks planned accordingly against the reeling, one-win defending XFL Conference Champion San Antonio Brahmas.
Head coach Anthony Becht only played rising star Max Duggan for the first half. Duggan, who had been getting a lot done with his legs in the running game, was wisely only allowed to rush the ball once for six yards. This not only helped keep Duggan healthy, but it also gave him more chances to pass the ball, and the Battlehawks will have to pass the ball to win a UFL Championship.
1st Half
Rodrigo Blankenship opened the scoring for the Battlehawks with a 21-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead. After their 77-yard field goal drive, St. Louis got another. This one was for 67 yards and capped off by a Jarveon Howard touchdown run.
St. Louis would lead 9-0. Micah Abraham, the cornerback out of Marshall would then make the big play. He’d force a Brahmas fumble, pick it up and return it 30 yards for a touchdown. St. Louis would lead 15-0.
San Antonio would answer with a touchdown drive of their own, cutting the lead to nine. The game wouldn’t stay 15-6 for long. Even with only 1:23 left before halftime, that was enough for Max Duggan. He’d lead St. Louis on a seven-play, 69-yard touchdown drive and do it in only 1:11. Duggan would hit Frank Darby (a star from Arizona State) for the 16-yard touchdown pass.
The Brahmas would get a field goal, but the Battlehawks would lead 21-10 at halftime. That would be all for Max Duggan and star running back Jacob Saylors. Saylors would have 33 yards on six carries. Duggan was 12 of 17 for 133 yards and a touchdown.
2nd Half
St. Louis’ backups would shine in the second half. The teams would trade field goals in the third quarter with Blankenship hitting a 23-yarder. It was 24-13 going into the fourth quarter. Backup quarterback Brandon Silvers was great. He was 7 of 10 for 100 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown would go to the Hawks’ best receiver, former Iowa State star Hakeem Butler. Butler would end the game with five catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. The 22-yard touchdown pass and conversion would make the game 32-13.
Running back Kevon Latulas and the rushing game would leave their mark, too. Latulas’ 23-yard touchdown run and conversion would give us the final score of 39-13. Latulas would have eight carries for 66 yards and a touchdown, and Jarveon Howard would have 12 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown. The Hawks’ defense would help ground the San Antonio passing game, forcing 12 incompletions from Kellen Mond.
Rivalry Renewed
Next for the 7-2 St. Louis Battlehawks are the Washington D.C. Defenders. D.C. is also playing great football and is 6-2 at the time of this writing. St. Louis already fell to D.C. at home in the Battledome earlier this season, 27-15. Neither team will be throwing out their best in D.C. They’ll be saving what they’ve got for the week after that, when they host the Defenders in the Battledome again. This time, when they’re looking for payback and redemption, a shot at the UFL Championship game at home in St. Louis will also be on the line for the Battlehawks. Go Hawks! Unleash the Kaw!
