XFL St. Louis Battlehawks

Week 5 Game Notes: Battlehawks vs Defenders

Published on March 15, 2023 under XFL (XFL)
St. Louis Battlehawks News Release


SERIES NOTES

This is the second meeting in the span of three weeks between the Battlehawks and D.C. Defenders. St. Louis suffered its first and only defeat of the season, 34-28, to the Defenders on March 5 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. The clubs also met in 2020 when D.C. beat the Battlehawks, 15-6.

GOOD TO BE HOME

The St. Louis Battlehawks complete their two-game homestand Saturday in a rematch of a Week 3 game against the D.C. Defenders that completed a seasonopening, three-game road trip. St. Louis kicked off its home schedule with a 24-11 win Sunday over the Arlington Renegades in front of 38,310 fans, which set a new XFL attendance record.

The Battlehawks will head back out on the road for a Week 6 matchup Saturday, March 25 to face the Vegas Vipers at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nev. 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.

KAW IS THE LAW

An XFL record-setting 38,310 fans welcomed the Battlehawks to The Dome at America's Center for their first home game of the season Sunday, and St. Louis rolled to a 24-11 victory over the Arlington Renegades to improve to 3-1 on the season.

The Battlehawks broke a 3-3 tie with 11 seconds left in the first half when QB A.J. McCarron found WR Darrius Shepherd for a 27-yard touchdown. McCarron next connected with RB Brian Hill for a 5-yard pass to complete a two-point conversion and give St. Louis an 11-3 lead at halftime. Hill extended St. Louis' lead to 17-3 with 6:58 left in the third quarter when he scampered 15 yards for his first rushing touchdown of the season.

Arlington closed the margin to 17-11 with 12:40 left in the fourth quarter, but the Battlehawks offense responded with a six-play, 67-yard drive that ended on a 27-yard pass from McCarron to WR Hakeem Butler. McCarron also hit TE Jake Sutherland for a 1-yard pass to complete a onepoint conversion. The St. Louis defense then maintained the 13-point advantage for the final 9:55 of the fourth quarter.

#FILLTHETOP

An XFL-record 38,310 fans showed up Sunday at The Dome at America's Center to watch the Battlehawks beat the Arlington Renegades, 24-11. The previous mark was 29,554 which was set by St. Louis in the 2020 home opener.

The 300 level will again be open for Saturday's game at 6 p.m. vs. the D.C. Defenders. Fans can purchase tickets at xfl.com/tickets.

WASHINGTON, D.C. CONNECTIONS

The Battlehawks feature four players who hail from Maryland or Virginia, along with one former University of Maryland Terrapin.

LB Silas Kelly was born in Mount Airy, MD, which is approximately 60 miles north of Audi Field. WR Hakeem Butler was born in Baltimore, MD, before he moved to Texas at age 16. WR Gary Jennings grew up in Richmond, VA, while OL Eric Magwood was born in Virginia Beach, VA.

LB Tre Watson Sr. played his senior season at Maryland in 2018, where he led the Big Ten with 5.9 tackles per game and five interceptions, which tied the school record for the most picks by a linebacker in a single season. He transferred to Maryland in 2018 after spending four seasons at Illinois. The Battlehawks also claimed a pair of former Defenders on March 7. St. Louis added RB Pooka Williams and WR Chad Hansen. Williams played in his first game of the season March 5 when the Battlehawks and Defenders first met in Washington, D.C. Hansen did not see game action with D.C.

DC Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu was the first player in Battlehawks history and started all five games for St. Louis in 2020. Offensive lineman Bruno Reagan also played for the Battlehawks in 2020.

FRACAS FALLOUT

XFL President Russ Brandon issued a series of suspensions and fines March 7 to Battlehawks and Defenders players involved in a scuffle near the end of their Week 3 game March 5 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

Defenders LB Francis Bernard and St. Louis OL Jaryd JonesSmith will both miss Saturday's game as they complete their two-game suspensions. Defenders DT Gabe Wright will return after serving his one-game suspension last week.

The league also fined three players and a coach for both teams an undisclosed amount:

- DC - CB Anthoula Kelly, LB Jamal Brooks, G Rod Taylor and defensive line coach Jeremy Watkins.

- STL - DB Nate Meadors, LB Travis Feeney, RB Brian Hill and special teams coordinator/TE coach Tory Woodbury.

SCHEDULE CHANGE

The XFL, in partnership with the Walt Disney Company and ESPN, has announced a schedule change for the Battlehawks' Week 7 road game against the Houston Roughnecks at TDECU Stadium in Houston.

The contest is now scheduled to be played at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 2. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Check out the St. Louis Battlehawks Statistics

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