The Battlehawks pick up a gritty win over the Roughnecks thanks to their great defensive play
In week 6 of the UFL season, the St. Louis Battlehawks picked up a win over the Houston Roughnecks led by defense for their fifth consecutive win. The Battlehawks won 22-8 to stay atop the XFL conference at 5-1.
This game started out slow for the Battlehawks, coming up scoreless through their first three drives. No points were scored in this game until halfway through the 2nd quarter when quarterback A.J. McCarron found wide receiver Hakeem Butler for a 17-yard touchdown reception to put St. Louis up 6-0.
After a few of exchanged punts, the Roughnecks looked to get on the board for the first time right before half. However, linebacker Mike Rose punched the ball out of running back Mark Thompson’s hand to give the Battlehawks the ball back with 50 seconds left in the 1st half.
Shortly after the fumble, the Battlehawks ended a quick drive in the endzone with a 1-yard pass to running back Steven Mitchell Jr for his first touchdown of the season. The touchdown plus 2-point conversion, gave St. Louis a 14-0 lead at the half.
Both defenses shined in the second half, as the two offenses combined for 100 total yards and 0 points for the entire 3rd quarter.
Houston started the fourth quarter with a score, as Thompson finished a drive with a rushing touchdown from 16 yards out to cut the lead down to just 8.
Later in the 4th Houston into Battlehawks territory the Roughnecks faced a 4th and 6 at the St. Louis’ 38 yard line. Head coach Curtis Johnson decided to go for the first down conversion but the Battlehawks held them short by a yard.
St. Louis extended their lead with a throw from McCarron to Butler for 36 yards and a touchdown. St. Louis added on a 2-point conversion. The Battlehawks ran the clock out and took the ball out of the back of the endzone on the last play of the game, giving Houston a safety and St. Louis a 22-8 victory.
This was the fourth time the St. Louis defense held the opposing team to under 19 points for the 4th time this season. McCarron finished the day with a 65% completion percentage for 255 yards, 3 touchdowns, and a pick. Butler continued his explosive start, racking up 134 yards and 2 touchdowns on 6 receptions. This gives him 478 receiving yards and 5 receiving touchdowns on the season, both of these stats lead the league.
Now the Battlehawks travel to Birmingham on Saturday, May 11 to play the undefeated Stallions. Birmingham leads the league outright in eight separate categories.
Edited by Hannah Taylor
Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com