In a clash that had more ups and downs than a roller coaster, the St. Louis Battlehawks eked out a one-point victory over the San Antonio Brahmas Saturday night, clinching the home-field carrot for the XFL conference title game. A nail-biter until the final seconds, the Battlehawks held on for a 13-12 victory, setting the stage for an explosive rematch next Sunday.
Despite a shaky start, the Battlehawks built a 10-0 lead going into halftime, thanks to a touchdown pass from A.J. McCarron and a field goal by Andre Szmyt. However, San Antonio's persistence paid off post-halftime when Morgan Ellison dashed into the end zone, according to KSAT. The Brahmas then almost turned the tide with a 37-yard touchdown from Quinton Dormady to Jontre Kirkland, followed by a controversial two-point conversion that was later nullified by a super challenge.
The hard-fought game witnessed St. Louis's defense stepping up in the crunch time. After the Brahmas failed on a 51-yard field goal attempt, the Battlehawks secured their narrow lead and the game. The attendance at The Dome at America's Center was 34,379, indicating strong local support for the St. Louis squad. The upcoming conference championship game promises to be an electrifying encounter, with both team's boasting identical 7-3 records.
On an individual note, Battlehawks’ RB Jacob Saylors set a new team single-season rushing record, surpassing Brian Hill's mark from the 2023 XFL season. McCarron also finished off an impressive regular season with 1,582 passing yards and 15 touchdown passes. St. Louis defenders were a force to be reckoned with, as LB Travis Feeney tied his own franchise single-season sack record and FS Kameron Kelly matched the franchise single-season interception record, detailed in an announcement by The UFL.
As the dust settles, St. Louis and San Antonio are on a collision course for next Sunday at 6 p.m. CT, televised on FOX and simulcast on FOX Sports on Sirius XM Radio. The victor not only takes the conference but advances to the UFL Championship, no doubt setting up an intense week of preparation for these gridiron gladiators.
