Battlehawks Rally in Final Minutes for Improbable Win at San Antonio
Published on February 19, 2023 under XFL (XFL)
St. Louis Battlehawks News Release
The St. Louis Battlehawks completed a furious fourth-quarter comeback Sunday to beat the San Antonio Brahmas, 18-15, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, to open the 2023 season.
The Battlehawks produced 16 points in the final 1 minute, 25 seconds of the game to erase a 15-3 deficit. QB A.J. McCarron delivered his first touchdown pass of the season to WR Hakeem Butler to draw the Battlehawks to within six points, 15-9. He then found WR Austin Proehl in the end zone for a 3-point conversion from the 10-yard line to cut the Brahmas lead to 15-12.
Head coach Anthony Becht then called for a 4th-and-15 attempt from the St. Louis 25-yard line rather than an onside kick to take advantage of a rule unique to the XFL, and McCarron connected with Proehl for 22 yards to get the Battlehawks to their own 47-yard line. A 15-yard roughing the passer penalty and three more McCarron pass completions from put the Battlehawks 14 yards from the end zone. McCarron again found Proehl on the next play to give St. Louis the deciding score with 16 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Battlehawks produced 173 total yards of offense in the fourth quarter. McCarron was 11- of-14 with 133 yards and two touchdowns in the quarter. He finished the game 18-for-27 with 190 yards and two touchdowns. Proehl led the team in receiving with four catches for 49 yards, including the game-winning touchdown. RB Brian Hill led the rushing attack with 55 yards on six attempts, including a 40-yard rush on the Battlehawks' first play of the fourth quarter that was the longest play of the game for either team.
San Antonio had built its 15-3 lead with three field goals and a touchdown. The Brahmas scored their only touchdown with 10:42 left in the fourth quarter to complete a 10-play, 63-yard drive that expanded their lead to 12-3. K Parker Romo put San Antonio up by 12 when converted a 48-yard field goal for his third successful kick of the game and left the Battlehawks with 3:02 to make their comeback.
The Battlehawks recorded their first points of the season with a 32-yard field goal by K Donny Hageman with 8:04 left in the first half to tie the game, 3-3. LB Travis Feeney put St. Louis in position for the field goal when he strip-sacked Brahmas QB Jack Coan. Feeney recovered the fumble himself and returned it 32 yards to the Brahmas' 29-yard line.
The Battlehawks remain on the road for their second game of the season with a trip to Seattle to face the Sea Dragons at 8 p.m. CT on Thursday, Feb. 23. The game will be televised on FX.
XFL Stories from February 19, 2023
- Renegades Flex Defensive Muscle to Hold off Vipers - Arlington Renegades
- Battlehawks Rally in Final Minutes for Improbable Win at San Antonio - St. Louis Battlehawks
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