Well, that was fun. The St. Louis Battlehawks 32 – 27 victory over the Michigan Panthers on Saturday night was a back-and-forth nailbiter. Three key things stood out during this game:
- It is sure helpful to have the best wide receiver in the UFL healthy again. Hakeem Butler showcased his big play ability with two touchdown catches and 124 yards receiving. His height, strength, and speed make him tough to stop.
- A full week of first-team repetitions worked wonders for Quarterback Max Duggan. He completed 75% of his passes and accounted for three total touchdowns. He looked comfortable and confident running the offense.
- Last week I challenged our coaches to step up their game and get creative. They answered the call, as made evident by the brilliant trick play with Wide Receiver (and former Southeast Missouri State University quarterback) Blake Jackson throwing a perfect fourth quarter touchdown pass to Butler.
This victory over Michigan sets up a must-win home showdown versus the Arlington Renegades at 7pm CT on Friday, May 2nd. The DC Defenders just keep on winning, and I do not see them slowing down anytime soon. That means St. Louis and Arlington are battling for the second and final playoff spot in the XFL division. Arlington beat St. Louis 30-15 in week four.
With Duggan continuing to improve and master the offense, a healthy Butler, a consistent and dependable kicker in Rodrigo Blankenship, and a laser-focused coaching staff that recognizes there is no room for error in this league, the Battlehawks seem poised for a strong second half of the season.