XFL St. Louis Battlehawks

Week 4 Battlehawks vs Arlington Game Notes

Published on March 8, 2023 under XFL (XFL)
St. Louis Battlehawks News Release


SERIES NOTES

This is the second meeting between the Battlehawks and Renegades in the XFL. The Battlehawks defeated the Bob Stoops-led squad, 15-9, at Choctaw Stadium in the 2020 season opener for both teams. St. Louis was coached by Arlington Co-Offensive Coordinator Jonathan Hayes.

BATTLEHAWKS VS. ARLINGTON

SUN MAR. 12 AT 3 PM CT ON ESPN 2

Tom Hart, Play-by-Play

Greg McElroy, Booth Analyst

Cole Cubelic, Field Analyst

Katie George, Reporter

LONG ROAD HOME

The St. Louis Battlehawks return to the Dome at America's Center for their first home game in 1,107 days dating back to Feb. 29, 2020 in a 23-16 win over Seattle. The home opener comes after a three-game road trip to begin the season that included stops in three different time zones. St. Louis went 2-1 on the trip with wins at San Antonio and Seattle before a loss Sunday at D.C.

The Battlehawks will play their first two home games in consecutive weeks, as they will host the D.C. Defenders at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 18 in a rematch of a 34-28 loss in Week 3 at D.C. The game will be televised on FX.

FAMILIAR FACES

- Battlehawks Head Coach Anthony Becht played for the St. Louis Rams in 2008.

- Offensive Coordinator Bruce Gradkowski (2008), Defensive Line Coach La'Roi Glover (2006-08), Running Backs Coach Art Valero (2008-09), Wide Receivers Coach Ricky Proehl (1998-2002), Linebackers Coach Chris Claiborne (2005), Director of Player Personnel Dave Boller (2004-07) and Vice President of Team Business and Event Operations Brandon Williams (2007) were also part of the St. Louis Rams organization.

- Running Back Brian Hill graduated from Belleville West High School.

- Wide Receiver Darrius Shepherd (Blue Springs) and Defensive Lineman Freedom Akinmoladun (Grandview) are both from western Missouri.

TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD

The Battlehawks suffered their first loss of the season Sunday in a 34-28 road loss to the D.C. Defenders after winning their first two games of the season on the road.

The St. Louis offense dug out of an early 14-0 hole to tie the game at 14 points apiece when AB. A.J. McCarron connected with WR Hakeem Butler on a 1-yard pass that completed a nine-play, 75-yard drive with three seconds remaingin before halftime.

The Battlehawks pulled ahead, 20-17, with 8:26 to play in the third quarter when McCarron found TE Jake Sutherland for a 23-yard touchdown pass, but D.C. scored the next 17 points to take a 34-20 lead late into the fourth quarter.

St. Louis nearly mustered its third fourth-quarter comeback in as many weeks when McCarron found WR Steven Mitchell Jr. in the end zone for both a touchdown and two-point conversion with 22 seconds left in the game.

The Battlehawks then attempted their second 4th-and-15 extra possession play of the season, but D.C. sacked McCarron on the play to foil St. Louis' comeback bid.

DFW CONNECTIONS

The Battlehawks have three players on their roster who were born in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, while several members of the Arlington roster and staff have ties to the 2020 version of the Battlehawks.

WR Marcell Ateman was born in Wylie, Texas, and was a First Team All-Area selection by the Dallas Morning News for Wylie East High School before playing collegiately at Oklahoma State and being drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2018.

DT Damion Daniels is from Dallas, Texas, and received First Team All-State honors twice while playing at Bishop Dunne Catholic School in Dallas.

SAF Jonathan Alexander grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, and attended Trimble Tech High School, where he earned First Team All-District accolades.

Arlington Co-Offensive Coordinator Jonathan Hayes was the Battlehawks Head Coach in 2020.Co-Offensive Coordinator Chuck Long was the OC/QB coach on his staff, Co-Defensive Coordinator Jay Hayes was the DC with Co-Defensive Coordinator Tim Lewis serving in the same role. Rengegades quality control coach Michael George was an assistant to the HC/assistant defensive line coach.

Seven Renegade players suited up for St. Louis in 2020: DL Will Clarke, OL Brian Folkerts (St. Louis native, Hazelwood Central), DB Will Hill, P Marquette King, DB Joe Powell, and K Taylor Russolino.

Check out the St. Louis Battlehawks Statistics

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