Battlehawks DE Travis Feeney (56) tries to bring down DC’s Abram Smith during Sunday’s United Football League game at The Dome at America’s Center. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
| UFL Football | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC Defenders (3-0) | 12 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 27 |
| St. Louis Battlehawks (2-1) | 0 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
ST. LOUIS, MO — The St. Louis Battlehawks suffered their first loss of the 2025 United Football League season on Sunday, when it was defeated 27-15 by the DC Defenders in a game at The Dome at America’s Center.
St. Louis, which dominated in its previous two wins, trailed the entire game and committed three key turnovers which prevented any chance at making a comeback.
DC was led by quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, who threw for 243 yards and three touchdowns. Conversely, St. Louis’ quarterback, Manny Wilkins threw three interceptions, one week after being named the UFL Offensive Player of the Week.
Battlehawks players celebrate after scoring a touchdown in Sunday’s UFL game at The Dome at America’s Center. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
The Defenders took quick control of the game and led 12-0 at the end of the first quarter.
St. Louis answered with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Wilkins to receiver Frank Darby. The Battlehawks failed on the two-point conversion attempt, but kicker Rodrigo Blankenship added a 40-yard field goal to make the score 12-9.
Ta’amu’s second touchdown pass of the first half put the Defenders up 18-9 midway through the second quarter. Blankenship made a 47-yard field to make the score 18-12 at halftime.
St. Louis had a chance to tie the game, or possibly go ahead, midway through the third quarter, but had to settle for a Blankenship 56-yard field goal — the longest of his career — to get within 18-15. But that was as close as the Battlehawks would get, as DC’s defense shut down St. Louis the rest of the game.
DC pushed its lead to 24-15 late in the fourth quarter on Ta’amu’s third touchdown pass of the day. But with a touchdown and a three-point conversion, St. Louis could’ve tied the game.
Unfortunately, Wilkins threw his third interception of the day on the series’ fourth play, which effectively ended any chance of a Battlehawk comeback.
St. Louis is now 2-1 on the season, while DC improved to 3-0.
QB Manny Wilkins looks for someone to throw to in the Battlehawks game against the DC Defenders, Saturday at The Dome at America’s Center. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
The Battlehawks will be back in action on Saturday, when they’ll travel to Texas to take on the Arlington Renegades.
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m., and the game will be televised on ABC.
SCORING SUMMARY
| Team | Qtr | Clock | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DC | 1 | 9:09 | M.McCrane 30 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-T.Barry, Holder-P.Brooks. | 3-0 |
| DC | 1 | 4:33 | J.Ta’amu pass deep middle complete. Catch made by T.Scott for 62 yards. TOUCHDOWN. | 9-0 |
| DC | 1 | 4:23 | TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. J.Ta’amu steps back to pass. Pass incomplete short middle intended for M.Fairchild (K.Kelly). TWO-POINT ATTEMPT FAILS. | 9-0 |
| DC | 1 | 1:47 | M.McCrane 42 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-T.Barry, Holder-P.Brooks. | 12-0 |
| STL | 2 | 9:56 | M.Wilkins pass deep right complete [A.Mintze]. Catch made by F.Darby for 35 yards. TOUCHDOWN. | 12-6 |
| STL | 2 | 9:49 | TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. B.Jackson rushed right end to DC 11 for yards. Tackled by M.Fisher at DC 11. TWO-POINT ATTEMPT FAILS. | 12-6 |
| STL | 2 | 6:10 | R.Blankenship 40 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-A.Matheson, Holder-S.Hofrichter. | 12-9 |
| DC | 2 | 2:24 | J.Ta’amu pass short middle complete. Catch made by B.Moore-McKinney for 10 yards. TOUCHDOWN. | 18-9 |
| DC | 2 | 2:20 | TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. J.Ta’amu steps back to pass. Pass incomplete short left intended for B.Bresnahan. TWO-POINT ATTEMPT FAILS. | 18-9 |
| STL | 2 | 00:56 | R.Blankenship 47 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-A.Matheson, Holder-S.Hofrichter. | 18-12 |
| STL | 3 | 7:39 | R.Blankenship 56 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-A.Matheson, Holder-S.Hofrichter. | 18-15 |
| DC | 4 | 2:25 | J.Ta’amu pass short left complete. Catch made by C.Powell for 3 yards. TOUCHDOWN. | 24-15 |
| DC | 4 | 2:21 | ONE-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. J.Ta’amu rushed left end to STL 5 for yards. ONE-POINT ATTEMPT FAILS. | 24-15 |
| DC | 4 | 00:08 | M.McCrane 50 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-T.Barry, Holder-P.Brooks. | 27-15 |
2025 ST. LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2025 (Friday) | 7 p.m. | Away | Houston Roughnecks | TDECU Stadium |  | W 31-6 (1-0) |
| April 6, 2025 (Sunday) | 5:30 p.m. | Home | San Antonio Brahmas | The Dome at America’s Center |  | W 26-9 (2-0) |
| April 13, 2025 (Sunday) | 2 p.m. | Home | DC Defenders | The Dome at America’s Center |  | L 27-15 (2-1) |
| April 19, 2025 (Saturday) | 11 a.m. | Away | Arlington Renegades | Choctaw Stadium | | |
| April 26, 2025 (Saturday) | 6 p.m. | Home | Michigan Panthers | The Dome at America’s Center |  | |
| May 2, 2025 (Friday) | 7 p.m. | Home | Arlington Renegades | The Dome at America’s Center | | |
| May 11, 2025 (Sunday) | 2 p.m. | Away | Memphis Showboats | Liberty Stadium | | |
| May 17, 2025 (Saturday) | 12 p.m. | Home | Birmingham Stallions | The Dome at America’s Center | | |
| May 23, 2025 (Friday) | 7 p.m. | Home | San Antonio Brahmas | The Dome at America’s Center | | |
| May 30, 2025 (Friday) | 7 p.m. | Away | DC Defenders | Audi Field | |