Washington, D.C. — In a gritty, weather-drenched clash at Audi Field, the St. Louis Battlehawks (8-2) edged the D.C. Defenders (6-4) 13–8 on Friday night, locking up the XFL regular-season conference championship and setting the stage for a high-stakes playoff rematch.
Fast Start, Fast Rain:
St. Louis wasted no time setting the tone. Quarterback AJ McCarron connected with Hakeem Butler on a deep strike on the game’s opening possession, marching into Defenders territory before running back Jarveon Howard capped the drive with a 1-yard plunge into the end zone.
But just as momentum began to build, the skies opened. A torrential downpour forced a first-quarter delay with 10 minutes remaining, halting the action and temporarily cooling off both squads.
Defensive Duel in the Downpour:
When play resumed, D.C. flipped the script. A perfectly executed punt pinned the Battlehawks deep, and on third down, Andre Mintze stormed through the line for a strip-sack and a safety — the first in UFL history — putting the Defenders on the board, down 7–2.
Turnovers and missteps continued to plague both sides in slick conditions, but it was St. Louis that weathered the chaos better. They added a pair of field goals — one after capitalizing on a D.C. fumble — and took a 13–2 lead into the locker room.
Defenders Come Up Just Short:
D.C. emerged from halftime with renewed urgency, and quarterback Mike DiLiello began to find his rhythm. The Defenders’ offense threatened multiple times but came away empty after two missed field goals killed drives that had playoff implications written all over them.
Still, D.C. wouldn’t go quietly. DiLiello engineered a late fourth-quarter drive, mixing efficient passes and tough runs before hitting Seth Williams for a short touchdown to make it 13–8. The two-point conversion attempt failed, but the Defenders’ defense delivered a critical stop to keep hope alive.
Unfortunately for D.C., time ran out on the comeback bid. The Battlehawks, aided by clock management and field position, held their ground and escaped with the victory.
What’s Next: A Rematch for Everything:
The Defenders and Battlehawks will meet again — this time with a championship berth on the line. The XFL Conference Championship is set for Sunday, June 8, at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, airing live on FOX at 6 p.m. ET.
Game Notes:
Second meeting this season: St. Louis has now won both matchups against D.C., including a 27–15 win earlier this year.
With the win, the Battlehawks are officially crowned XFL regular-season conference champions.
The game included the first safety in UFL history, credited to Andre Mintze.
WR Seth Williams led D.C.’s offense with 4 catches for 41 yards and a touchdown.
QB Mike DiLiello was efficient through the air, going 18-of-26 for 142 yards and 1 TD, while also rushing for 60 yards on 10 carries.
Defensive standouts for D.C. included LB Shayne Simon (8 tackles) and CB Trey Dean III (7 tackles, 1 TFL).
