This game marks the third meeting between the Renegades and Battlehawks, with St. Louis winning both of the previous matchups. The first game was on March 1, 2020 at Choctaw Stadium (15-9) and the second game was on March 12, 2023 at The Dome At America’s Center (24-11).
This will be the first time the teams have clashed as conference foes. St. Louis and Arlington resided in opposite conferences in both the 2020 and 2023 XFL seasons. St. Louis finished the 2023 season 7-3 and missed the XFL playoffs. Arlington won the 2023 XFL Championship after going 4-6 in the regular season.
Arlington and St. Louis are also scheduled to meet again during the 2024 regular season on Saturday, May 25 in Arlington.
What do we know?
The Battlehawks dropped their first game of the 2024 UFL season, 18-16, to the Michigan Panthers after kicker Jake Bates drilled a 64-yard field goal with 8 seconds remaining in Saturday’s contest at Ford Field in Detroit.
St. Louis had taken a 16-15 lead with 54 seconds left in regulation when QB A.J. McCarron connected with WR Marcell Ateman for a 5-yard touchdown pass on a 4th-and-goal play. McCarron then hit TE Jake Sutherland for a 1-yard completion on an extra point attempt.
After such an amazing offensive display near the end of the fourth quarter, losing the game on a last minute field goal was a complete letdown for the St. Louis team.
Quarterback A.J. McCarron was impressive, started his second season with St. Louis by going 24-for-37 for 216 yards with a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions. It was a decent effort, as McCarron was one of two UFL quarterbacks to throw for multiple touchdowns in the season’s opening weekend, joining San Antonio QB Chase Garber for the league lead. McCarron also ranks second in the league in completions and passing yards.
Wide receiver Marcell Ateman led the Battlehawks receiving corps with a game-high six catches for 60 yards. Two of those catches came in particularly crucial situations during the fourth quarter.
Tight end Jake Sutherland was instrumental in St. Louis’ comeback as he caught the Battlehawks’ first touchdown of the season with a 5-yard grab to give them a 9-7 lead with 7:55 left in the game. Then he then caught a 1-yard pass to convert an extra-point attempt that gave St. Louis a 16-15 lead with 54 second to go in regulation.
Darrius Shepherd, the 2023 XFL Special Teams Player of the Year, picked up where he left off Saturday with 164 all-purpose yards, including a 48-yard kick return that set up the Battlehawks second touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
The Battlehawks were one of two teams, along with the Arlington Renegades, to lead the UFL with two interceptions in the first week of the season. MLB Mike Rose stopped Michigan’s second drive of the game with his first pick of the season, and FS Qwnterrio Cole made his first Battlehawks interception at his own goal line in the second quarter on a pass tipped by S Dravon Askew-Henry.
The Battlehawks defense is tied for the league lead with six pass breakups. LB Willie Harvey led the St. Louis defense with a team-high seven tackles, including a team-high five solo tackles, to go with a team-leading two pass breakups. The Iowa State product also matched DE Travis Feeney for the team lead with 2.0 tackles for loss.
The Arlington Renegades were on the losing end of the very first UFL game that featured Champion vs. Champion matchup between themselves and the Birmingham Stallions.
Quarterback Luis Perez returned right where he left off last season, as he completed 19 passes on 28 attempts for 214 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Perez also had two carries for six yards.
Arlington wide receiver Isaiah Winstead’s 51-yard touchdown reception was the longest play of the UFL’s opening weekend. In his professional football debut, Winstead finished the game with 2 receptions for 60 yards. Tight end Sal Cannella caught four passes for 49 yards. On the ground, running back De’Veon Smith rushed for a mere 17 yards on 7 runs, averaging 2.4 yards per carry. Running back Leddie Brown recorded a total of 30 yards on 8 carries.
Arlington kicker Taylor Russolino was a perfect 2-for-2 in his field goal attempts on Saturday, tying for the lead in field goal percentage (100%), as D.C.’s Matthew McCrane and Houston’s J.J. Molson are also perfect on the season so far.
Arlington’s defensive unit came up with some big plays in Saturday’s home opener, forcing two turnovers on the day. Darren Evans and Duron Lowe each came up with an interception at the hands of QB Matt Corral. In addition, Renegades’ LB Marquel Lee had a game-high 9 total tackles in the contest, and DE Vic Beasley came up with a sack at the end of the first half. So far, Arlington’s defense is tied for a league-best two takeaways heading into Week 2.
What should we look for?
Just prior to the beginning of the season, oddsmakers gave plenty of credit to the St. Louis Battlehawks to have a chance to win it all. They have adjusted their outlook after the Battlehawks dropped their first game of the season. However, people should temper their disappointment in the Battlehawks, as the Panthers sealed their win over St. Louis in the last seconds of the game, and had to kick a relatively unprecedented 64-yard field goal to make it happen.
After suffering such a tough opening loss, look to the Battlehawks to bounce back at home. McCarron has the skills, and last week he showed why he is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the UFL.
On the other hand, the Arlington Renegades held on for one half, but were left behind by a much more powerful Birmingham Stallions team eventually losing 27-14. If the Battlehawks can figure out how to dominate the Renegades in a similar fashion, it could be a long night for Arlington.
The oddsmakers are giving the edge to the Battlehawks. Also, a massive home crowd will have a role in the outcome of this game.
