Head Coach Ricky Proehl (Media by the St. Louis Battlehawks and the United Football League)
The St. Louis Battlehawks clawed Orlando
St. Louis 25, Orlando 17
The St. Louis Battlehawks had a tall task this week, going on the road to play the undefeated Orlando Storm. The Hawks needed to rebound after last week’s loss to DC, and this was a big game to do it in. St. Louis had this game circled on their calendar even before Orlando got off to a 4-0 start. The Storm are led by former Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht. This St. Louis team would love nothing more than to give their old head coach his first loss at his new team. The Battlehawks got off to a good start in doing just that.
St. Louis received the opening kickoff and proceeded to go on an eight-play, 62-yard touchdown drive. Running back Kylin James, the 22-year-old out of UNLV, punched it in from two yards out. Punter Ryan Sanborn assumed the kicking duties for St. Louis, and he got off to a rough start, missing the extra point. Still, St. Louis took an early 6-0 lead.
Second Quarter
The Battlehawks defense stymied Orlando’s offense. An offense that had been humming all season behind quarterback Jack Plummer. Orlando’s rushing attack struggled, keeping their whole attack out of sync. The St. Louis offense would carry over a drive that began at the end of the first quarter and pay it off in the second. An eight-yard Harrison Frost to James Bostic touchdown pass would cap off a 59-yard drive. Sanborn would miss his second PAT, and St. Louis would lead 12-0.
Sanborn would settle down, though, as the second quarter went on. He would drill field goals from 36 and 40 yards out. The Battlehawks’ defense would outfly the Storm, and St. Louis would take an 18-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Second Half
St. Louis’ defense would force a turnover on downs on Orlando’s first possession of the third quarter. They’d then capitalize on the stop. Harrison Frost’s four-yard touchdown run would finish off a 41-yard drive. Ryan Sanborn would nail the point after for the first time, and St. Louis would have a commanding 25-0 lead.
But Orlando wouldn’t go quietly. When it looked like they were thoroughly cooked, Anthony Becht’s team rallied. A Jack Plummer touchdown pass would get Orlando on the board and finish off an 82-yard drive. The Storm would block a Battlehawk punt, get the ball at the one-yard line, and have it punched in by Elijah Dotson. Just like that, Orlando would be back in the game, and the score would be 25-14 headed into the fourth quarter.
Weathering the Storm
While St. Louis’ offense would struggle late, the defense would continue to play well. Outside of the 82-yard touchdown drive that got Orlando on the board, the Battlehawks didn’t let the Storm out of their talons. Orlando would get 95 yards of offense in the fourth quarter, but only three points. St. Louis would give the Storm their first loss of the season, 25-17. The Battlehawks would get the better of their old head coach and hand him his first loss of the season.
On to Louisville
The Battlehawks will play their next game at Louisville on Thursday. Ricky Proehl’s team punched hard in their win over Orlando, scoring 25 when they had been averaging 21.8 per game. They gained around 50 more yards of offense than usual when they put up 295 on Orlando. The defense was the story of the game, though. They held Orlando to 211 total yards of offense and 17 points when the Storm had been averaging 307 yards and 21.8 points per game. St. Louis’ defense will lead them as they look to overthrow the Louisville Kings.
