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Battlehawks Fall to D.C. after Second-Half Struggles

March 5, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
St. Louis Battlehawks News Release

The St. Louis Battlehawks' third straight fourth-quarter comeback attempt fell short Sunday in a 34-28 loss to the D.C. Defenders in a Week 3 contest at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

A 2-yard touchdown pass and 5-yard, two-point conversion pass from QB A.J. McCarron to WR Steven Mitchell Jr. with 22 seconds to play were not enough for the Battlehawks to come back from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

The Defenders took a lead they would not relinquish with 17 straight points in the second half.

A 2-yard touchdown run by QB Jordan Ta'amu gave D.C. a 23-20 lead with 3 minutes, 8 seconds left in the third quarter, and a successful two-point conversion extended the Defenders' lead to 25-20. A field goal and touchdown in the fourth quarter then gave D.C. a 34-20 advantage.

St. Louis recovered from a 14-0 deficit in the first half and took its only lead of the game when QB A.J. McCarron completed a 23-yard pass to TE Jake Sutherland with 8:26 left in the third quarter. Sutherland's first touchdown catch of the season gave the Battlehawks a 20-17 lead.

WR Darrius Shepherd put the Battlehawks in position for the go-ahead touchdown with a 72- yard kickoff return. Shepherd also had a 58-yard return in the fourth quarter.

The Battlehawks overcame an early 14-0 deficit and tied the score at 14 points apiece on their final drive of the first half. McCarron was 7-for-8 for 67 passing yards on a drive that ended with a 1-yard completion to WR Hakeem Butler with three seconds left before halftime. Butler caught five passes for 58 yards on the drive, including his team-high third TD catch of the year.

The Defenders stormed to their 14-point lead within the first 5:15 of the game. A 77-yard touchdown drive that included a two-point conversion put D.C. up, 8-0. CB Michael Joseph then intercepted McCarron two plays later and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown.

St. Louis closed to within six points of D.C.'s lead, 14-8, with its first score of the game when McCarron found RB Brian Hill for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 5:33 left in the first quarter.

McCarron then hit Shepherd for a 5-yard pass good for a two-point conversion that completed an eight-play, 73-yard drive.

The Battlehawks will begin their home schedule with a 3 p.m. CT game Sunday, March 12 against the Arlington Renegades at The Dome at America's Center. The game will be televised on ESPN 2. Tickets are available at XFL.com/tickets.

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