UFL Week 2 Recap: Battlehawks Still Clearly the Favorites

Week 2 of the United Football League season is in the books and, while the other seven teams had somewhat of a scoring allergy, the Battlehawks kept the touchdown train rolling, propelled by their running game. Let’s take a look around the league and see just how far ahead the Battlehawks are from the rest of the league.

Stallions 21, Panthers 12

Perhaps rumors of the Stallions’ demise were premature but that doesn’t mean it looks great in Birmingham. Week 1 starter Alex McGough exited the game after just one play and ceded the offense to Matt Corral. Corral managed a statline of 18/29 for 198 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Deon Cain had four catches for 89 yards and that lone touchdown, the coup de grâce for yet another Stallion victory over the Panthers.

The Stallions are 6-0 in “modern” history against the Panthers, and it felt like the Panthers were snakebitten from the opening whistle. The Panthers punted three straight times against the Stallions’ defense, then QB Bryce Perkins threw a backbreaking INT off a tipped pass, then the Panthers were stuffed on a goal-line stand. By the fourth quarter, it was already too late for the Panthers to mount any sort of comeback.

The Stallions play the Renegades at home next week, while the Panthers host the Brahmas.

Defenders 17, Showboats 12

Give these two teams credit — they were in an unenviable position going up against the NCAA men’s Final Four games, but neither was particularly impressive here. Sloppy play doomed the Showboats to an 0-2 record, while DC became the most surprising 2-0 team of the bunch. 

Memphis got out to a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter but failed to score any points until the third quarter, in which time DC added three field goals to take a 9-6 lead. E.J. Perry's scrambling touchdown put the Showboats up late, but DC answered immediately with a touchdown and an interesting two-point attempt.

Returning Showboats head coach Ken Wisenhunt made the bizarre decision to kick a field goal down five points near the end of the fourth quarter, and was rewarded for his efforts with an emphatic block by Devonnsha Maxwell. 

Next week, the Showboats host the 0-2 Roughnecks, while the Defenders travel to St. Louis to take on the Battlehawks. 

Renegades 11, Roughnecks 9

Despite the final result, this game never really felt as close as the score indicated. The Renegades defense stifled the Roughnecks for most of the game, but Arlington’s offense couldn’t hold up their end of the bargain. This was another sloppy game by both teams, but there has to be a winner and a loser, right?

The highlight of the game might very well be this boot from Renegades punter Marquette King, who, at 36 years old, is still doing it. 

Battlehawks 26, Brahmas 9

Your main event of the weekend was no doubt the 2024 XFL Championship rematch between your St. Louis Battlehawks and San Antonio Brahmas. The Battlehawks kept their balanced attack going, with 162 yards passing and 164 yards rushing. Jacob Saylors continued his stellar season with three touchdowns on the day:

To me, the biggest story of the game was the Battlehawks’ offensive line. Get ready to say goodbye to offensive line coach Marc Colombo, Battlehawks fans — he will be coaching in the NFL soon enough. The offensive line, normally a weakness in spring football, has become a clear strength for the Battlehawks and it is the primary reason why they look to be the best team in the league by a mile. The “Knights of Colombo” together won the league’s Offensive Player of the Week award in Week 1.

While the Brahmas didn’t have much to celebrate, it does seem like the team remembered they had Anthony McFarland at running back. Last season, McFarland averaged four yards per carry and was even heralded by the commentary team for being an effective weapon. He had 55 yards on just six carries.

Read more about the Battlehawks' upcoming Week 3 matchup with the DC Defenders on Sports Hub STL.

UFL Week 3 Schedule