Graphic by the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL
The second weekend of the UFL has wrapped up, and the St. Louis Battlehawks are 2-0 and off to a great start to the 2025 season. Anthony Becht’s team won their home opener in the Battledome against the San Antonio Brahmas. St. Louis’s win came behind a big effort in the running game from Jacob Saylors and a good pass rush from the Battlehawks’ defense.
1st Half
Rodrigo Blankenship got the scoring started with a field goal for the Hawks. That 3-0 lead held through the first quarter and into the second when the star of the game, Jacob Saylors, dashed for a 20-yard touchdown and punched in a two-point conversion to put St. Louis up 11-0.
Saylors would get his second rushing touchdown fighting to break the plane. Initially called a fumble, the review showed that Jacob Saylors crossed the goal line before he lost the ball. The pass for the two-point conversion would be incomplete.
2nd Half
San Antonio would get on the board just before the first half ended, and St. Louis would lead 17-3 at the break. In the third quarter, the Battlehawks would keep going with what had worked in the first half with the running game. Jacob Saylors would get his third touchdown of the game and St. Louis would have a 23-3 lead.
San Antonio would get a touchdown late in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the scoring would close the way it opened with a Rodrigo Blankenship field goal. The final score would be St. Louis 26, San Antonio 9. The Battlehawks’ rushing attack led the way with 164 yards. Quarterback Manny Wilkins had 58 yards (while throwing for 162 yards on 12 of 16 passes), and Jacob Saylors had 46 yards, three touchdowns, and a two-point conversion. Saylors scored 20 of St. Louis’ 26 points, with Blankenship getting the other six.
The Battlehawks’ defense was especially strong against the pass. They sacked San Antonio quarterback Kelln Mond four times, picked him off once, and allowed only a 48.6 percent completion percentage. They broke up six passes and also made four tackles for a loss.
Jacob Saylors has 144 yards on 27 carries and four touchdowns in St. Louis’ first two games. He and the Battlehawks will host the D.C. Defenders on Sunday in the Battledome as they look to go 3-0!
Thanks for reading! I’m mostly known for college sports, Ohio State and BYU. This spring, however, I’m writing about the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL in spring football.
