Washington, D.C.—-The St. Louis Battlehawks made a triumphant journey to the nation’s capital to take on the Washington Defenders in a clash between two former XFL powerhouses.
Under the radiant sunshine and a pleasant 75-degree weather, the Battlehawks, led by their stellar quarterback AJ McCarron, capitalized on four turnovers by the Defenders, ultimately dominating the game.
After a closely contested first half with a score of 17-12, the Battlehawks unleashed a relentless offensive onslaught in the fourth quarter, scoring four touchdowns and stunning the Defenders with an unexpected 45-12 victory, prompting some Defenders fans to leave the stadium early.
The Washington quarterbacks struggled, throwing three interceptions that directly led to three touchdowns for the Battlehawks. As a result, the Defenders find themselves below .500 for the first time this season, with a 2-3 record.
This marked the beginning of a three-game home series for the Defenders, who will next face the San Antonio Brahmas at Audi Field next Sunday at 4 pm.
On the other hand, St. Louis will return home to face the Houston Roughnecks next Saturday, aiming to maintain their impressive one-loss record. McCarron showcased his prowess, completing 14-of-24 passes for 213 yards and delivering a pair of touchdown passes to Butler, who had six receptions for 147 yards.
However, it was the trio of fourth quarter rushing touchdowns from Jacob Saylors, Wayne Gallman II, and Manny Wilkins that ultimately sealed the victory for the Battlehawks, leaving the Defenders unable to mount a comeback.
This defeat marked a significant milestone for the Defenders, as it was their first loss at home after an impressive 10-0 start at Audi Field across three seasons in two different leagues. They will have a chance to defend their home turf once again next week when they take on the Brahmas.
Meanwhile, the Battlehawks will seek to extend their four-game winning streak as they face off against Houston in Week 6. In addition to their defensive prowess, highlighted by interceptions from Brandon Sebastian, Kameron Kelly, and Mike Rose, St. Louis also showcased their special team’s dominance by blocking two punts, further solidifying their commanding performance on the field.
