Photo by the St. Louis Battlehawks and the United Football League
The St. Louis Battlehawks never quit in their battle against Birmingham
St. Louis 34, Birmingham 30
The Battlehawks were home in St. Louis for their third game of the season. After a loss to the Dallas Renegades, they needed the comforts of the Battledome. They welcomed the 2022 and 2023 USFL and 2024 UFL Champions, the Birmingham Stallions, to St. Louis. Birmingham is now coached by former Battlehawk quarterback AJ McCarron. This highly charged game got off to a great start for St. Louis. Their defense struck first. Jordan Williams intercepted a Matt Corral pass and returned it ten yards for a touchdown, and St. Louis led, 7-0.
Things slowed down for St. Louis. After last week’s loss to Dallas, it looked like St. Louis could be in trouble. Birmingham would go on a run that blasted the Battlehawks. The Stallions would respond to the 7-0 deficit with a 23-6 run, leading 23-13 at the start of the fourth quarter. Only two Tucker McCann field goals showed any St. Louis life after the Williams pick-six. Then the fourth quarter happened.
Fireworks in the Fourth Quarter.
In a 1:36 drive of 55 yards, Harrison Frost would find wide receiver Steven McBride for a two-yard touchdown. Frost would begin to bounce back from his two interceptions. The former Mercer quarterback’s touchdown pass would make it a new ballgame with a 23-20 score.
Birmingham would respond quickly. Matt Corral would hit Deon Cain for a 67-yard touchdown pass and the lead would be back to double digits for the Stallions. Harrison Frost and the Battlehawks’ passing game would answer. Frost would find star wide receiver and former Iowa State standout, Hakeem Butler, for a 64-yard touchdown pass to keep St. Louis alive.
St. Louis would get the ball back again, trailing 30-27, and have a chance to take the lead. A methodical, 12-play, 75-yard drive would culminate in a touchdown for the Hawks. St. Louis would score on an 11-yard pass from Frost to star tight end Tyler Neville. The Battlehawks would have the lead for the first time since the first quarter. St. Louis’ defense would hold, and St. Louis would complete the comeback with a 21-point fourth quarter.
Home, Sweet Battledome
Harrison Frost would end the game 9 of 15 for 145 yards and three touchdown passes. All the touchdown passes came after coming off the bench cold and throwing two interceptions. Frost was aided by a great day from Hakeem Butler, who would finish the game with four catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. On Saturday, the Hawks will visit their old foe, the DC Defenders. St. Louis beat them, 16-10, to start the year.
