Battlehawks Heat up in Runaway Win at Vegas
March 25, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
St. Louis Battlehawks News Release
The St. Louis Battlehawks returned to the road after a pair of home games and delivered their largest margin of victory of the season in a 29-6 win Saturday over the Vegas Vipers at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nev., to improve to 4-2 on the season.
The Battlehawks offense produced a season-high 29 points and 328 total yards while tying a season high with four touchdowns. The defense held the Vipers to 230 total yards and 43 rushing yards, which were both the fewest by a St. Louis opponent this season.
The St. Louis defense also allowed its fewest points of the season and held Vegas scoreless until a touchdown with 7 minutes, 5 seconds left in the game. The six points allowed are also tied for the fewest allowed by an XFL team this season.
After beginning the game with three incompletions, Battlehawks QB A.J. McCarron began a streak of 19-straight completions. McCarron compiled 200 passing yards with touchdowns during the streak, which covered nearly four full scoring drives to help build the St. Louis lead to 23-0 in the third quarter. He finished 23-for-29 with 236 passing yards and three touchdowns.
After a scoreless first quarter, WR Gary Jennings found the end zone on the first play of the second quarter with a 4-yard reception. McCarron then connected with WR Darrius Shepherd on a 5-yard pass for a two-point conversion to give St. Louis an 8-0 advantage. McCarron was a perfect 7-for-7 with 51 passing yards and a 16-yard run on the scoring drive.
McCarron extended his completions streak to 15 on the next drive to set up K Donny Hageman for a 40-yard field goal that extended St. Louis' lead to 11-0 with 2:25 left before halftime. St.
Louis tacked on another six points with 34 seconds remaining the first half when Shepherd made a 30-yard touchdown catch. Shepherd completed his night with a 6-yard touchdown catch for St. Louis' final score that re-established their 23-point lead with 3:06 left in the game.
DB Lavert Hill gave the Battlehawks offense its first opportunity of the second half with his first of two interceptions. The offense turned his first takeaway into a 7-play, 49-yard drive that ended on a 1-yard rush by Kareem Walker with 9:32 remaining in the third quarter.
The Battlehawks will finish a two-game road trip with a matchup against the Houston Roughnecks at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, April 2 at TDECU Stadium in Houston for their final road game of the regular season. The game will be televised on ESPN.
XFL Stories from March 25, 2023
- Battlehawks Heat up in Runaway Win at Vegas - St. Louis Battlehawks
- Highlights: St. Louis Battlehawks vs. Vegas Vipers - XFL
- Offense Finds Footing as Sea Dragons Stop Orlando - Seattle Sea Dragons
- Sea Dragons Hold Off Guardians, 26-19 - Orlando Guardians
- Vegas Vipers and Las Vegas Academy of the Arts Alumni Partner for National Anthem Singers for Remaining Home Games - Vegas Vipers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
