Battlehawks RB Jarveon Howard gets tackled by defenders during Sunday’s UFL game in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
| United Football League | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis Battlehawks (2-2) | 3 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 22 |
| DC Defenders (3-1) | 7 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 28 |
WASHINGTON, DC — The St. Louis Battlehawks suffered a disappointing road loss, 28-22, to the rival DC Defenders in a United Football League game at Audi Field in the nation’s capital.
St. Louis had a tough time on defense trying to contain DC’s offense. The Battlehawks trailed most of the game and gave up 306 total yards, while the Defenders totaled 21 first downs, converted nine-of-17 third down attempts, and held the ball for more than 38 of the game’s 60 minutes.
“We just didn’t do a good job of getting off the field,” Battlehawks head coach Ricky Proehl said. “We were doing okay forcing third downs. But then we just didn’t get the stops we needed to get the ball back.”
DC quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, who was sacked seven times by St. Louis in the teams’ previous meeting on March 28, looked comfortable the entire day and completed 22-of-36 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns. He also led the Defenders in rushing, with 61 yards on the day.
Battlehawks running back Jarveon Howard stiff arms DC’s Tim Dunklin during Saturday’s UFL game in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
St. Louis took the initial lead when it drove into DC territory on the game’s opening possession and converted a 51-yard field goal by Tucker McCann to go up 3-0. DC answered immediately with one of its sharpest drives of the season.
The Defenders converted all three third downs it faced, which included a 22-yard scramble on a near sack by Ta’amu, leading to a 14-yard touchdown pass from the quarterback to Keke Coutee.
The Battlehawks re-took the lead early in the second quarter, when wide receiver Hakeem Butler made one of the most thrilling plays in the UFL this season, by taking a short sideline screen pass, stiff-arming a defender away, and then racing 75 yards for a touchdown that made the score 9-7.
DC took the lead back on its next possession, with a 56-yard field goal by Matt McCrane. Later, Ta’amu threw his second TD of the day to Ty Scott to put the Defenders up 17-9.
St. Louis was able to add a field goal just as the half ended, thanks to a spectacular leaping grab by Butler and a DC penalty, which allowed the Battlehawks one more play before halftime.
McCann connected from 26 yards to send the teams into the break 17-12.
Battlehawks wide receiver Hakeem Butler tries to break away from DC’s Jake Jahmal during Saturday’s UFL game in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
DC controlled the third quarter by not allowing the St. Louis to move the ball at all and adding another field goal by McCrane and a tackle in the end zone for a safety, which put the defenders up 22-12.
McCrane added a third field goal early in the fourth to make the score 25-12.
The Battlehawks kept battling and made the game close again when Kevon Latulas scored a touchdown on a bulldozing run from seven yards out, which along with the extra point made the score 25-19.
Both teams added field goals late in the fourth, but St. Louis did get the ball back one last time with a chance to tie or possibly win.
Unfortunately, quarterback Harrison Frost, who led the Battlehawks’ comeback last week against Birmingham with three fourth quarter touchdown passes, couldn’t do it again and was eventually intercepted on a poorly thrown pass, which allowed DC to run out the clock and finish off the win.
“He was trying to make a play that wasn’t there,” Proehl said. “He was under some pressure and tried to get the ball to one of our guys, who was open for a second, but there were too many defenders there and it was a long throw. It allowed the defenders to get there and get the interceptions. That was a mistake young quarterbacks make. He’ll learn from it though.”
Battlehawks safety Nathan Assata looks to break away from defenders during Saturday’s UFL game in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
The loss dropped the Battlehawks to 2-2 on the season, while DC improved to 3-1.
St. Louis will be on the road again next week, when it will travel down to Florida to take on the unbeaten Orlando Storm — coached by former Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht.
That game at Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium will kickoff at 6 p.m., Saturday night and will be televised nationally on ESPN.
SCORING SUMMARY
| Team | Qtr | Clock | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STL | 1 | 9:08 | FIELD GOAL – Tucker McCann 51 yard field goal | 3-0 |
| DC | 1 | 3:30 | TOUCHDOWN – Jordan Ta’amu 14-yard pass to Keke Coutee (PAT good) | 3-7 |
| STL | 2 | 13:28 | TOUCHDOWN – Harrison Frost 75-yard pass to Hakeem Butler (PAT no good) | 9-7 |
| DC | 2 | 11:06 | FIELD GOAL – Matt McCrane 56 yard field goal | 9-10 |
| DC | 2 | 3:11 | TOUCHDOWN – Jordan Ta’amu 3-yard pass to Ty Scott (PAT good) | 9-17 |
| STL | 2 | 00:00 | FIELD GOAL – Tucker McCann 26 yard field goal | 12-17 |
| DC | 3 | 8:49 | FIELD GOAL – Matt McCrane 43 yard field goal | 12-20 |
| STL | 3 | 8:23 | SAFETY – QB Sack in end zone | 12-22 |
| DC | 4 | 12:54 | FIELD GOAL – Matt McCrane 24 yard field goal | 12-25 |
| STL | 4 | 10:05 | TOUCHDOWN – Kevon Latulas 7-yard run (PAT good) | 19-25 |
| DC | 4 | 5:54 | FIELD GOAL – Matt McCrane 39 yard field goal | 19-28 |
| STL | 4 | 2:00 | FIELD GOAL – Tucker McCann 28 yard field goal | 22-28 |
2026 ST. LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2026 (Saturday) | 11 am | Home | DC Defenders | The Dome at America’s Center |  | W, 16-10 (1-0) |
| April 7, 2026 (Tuesday) | 7 pm | Away | Dallas Renegades | Toyota Stadium / Frisco, TX |  | L, 31-15 (1-1) |
| April 12, 2026 (Sunday) | 2 pm | Home | Birmingham Stallions | The Dome at America’s Center |  | W, 34-30 (2-1) |
| April 18, 2026 (Saturday) | 11:30 am | Away | DC Defenders | Audi Field / Washington, DC | | L, 28-22 (2-2) |
| April 25, 2026 (Saturday) | 6 pm | Away | Orlando Storm | Inter&Co Stadium / Orlando, FL | | |
| April 30, 2026 (Thursday) | 7 pm | Away | Louisville Kings | Lynn Family Stadium / Louisville, KY | | |
| May 8, 2026 (Friday) | 7 pm | Home | Columbus Aviators | The Dome at America’s Center |  | |
| May 16, 2026 (Saturday) | 2 pm | Home | Houston Gamblers | The Dome at America’s Center | | |
| May 24, 2026 (Sunday) | 6 pm | Away | Houston Gamblers | Shell Energy Stadium / Houston, TX |  | |
| May 29, 2026 (Friday) | 7 pm | Home | Dallas Renegades | The Dome at America’s Center | |