The St. Louis Battlehawks will be back at the Battledome for a game against the Columbus Aviators, Friday night. (Photo: Ellie Parker)

St. Louis Battlehawks – Gameday Info
Game No. 7 — Columbus Aviators (2-4) at St. Louis Battlehawks (4-2)
Date/Time – May 8, 2026 – 7 pm
Location – The Dome at America’s Center — St. Louis, MO
Broadcast – FOX
Radio — KMOX 104.1 FM
Live Stats – UFL Stats Broadcast

ST. LOUIS, MO — After playing an unprecedented three straight games on the road, the St. Louis Battlehawks will finally return to the Battledome tonight for a key United Football League game against the Columbus Aviators.

With only the top four teams making the playoffs, both the Battlehawks and the Aviators will be looking to improve their playoff chances.

St. Louis comes in with a 4-2 record and sit in second place in the UFL standings, while Columbus, which is coming off a win last week, is 2-4 and need another victory to stay in the hunt.

Battlehawks RB Jarveon Howard leads the UFL in rushing with 297 yards in six games this season. (Photo: Ellie Parker)

Players to Watch: The Battlehawks are fresh off two impressive victories and return to the Battledome as one of the hottest teams in the UFL. After handing Orlando its first loss of the season in Week Five, St. Louis thoroughly dominated Louisville in Week Six.

Now they return home, where they own a perfect 2-0 record and sit in second place, just one game behind the DC Defenders for the top spot. They will also play three of their final games in the Battledome.

Jarveon Howard enters Week Seven as the leading rusher in the UFL. He has generated numerous splash plays on the ground and has recorded 297 rushing yards.

Columbus owns the worst rushing defense in the league, surrendering an average of 125 yards per game. If St. Louis establishes Howard and the rest of its backfield, it can take over the game and open several other avenues for new signal caller Luis Perez to operate.

The attention is on Luis Perez, who was announced as the starter earlier this week by head coach Ricky Proehl, to produce for the Battlehawks. With a plethora of playmakers in the mix and a heavy emphasis on the rushing attack, he will have opportunities to win through the air.

If Columbus wants to stop the run, get Hakeem Butler going. Butler averages more than 25 yards per reception and ranks second in the UFL with 405 yards in just five games. Butler is always a threat to break the game open, and a big performance could be looming.

The story all season has been the ferocious Battlehawks defense.

They rank atop the league in sacks and have takeover ability. While Columbus relies on timing and rhythm, that is exactly what St. Louis takes away from offenses. If they once again cause chaos, it could be a nightmare for the Aviators.

Battlehawks rush end Pita Taumoepenu came alive in Week 6. Taumoepenu racked up two sacks against Louisville, and unlocking the reigning Defensive Player of the Year is an added bonus for an already dangerous unit.

Battlehawks WR Hakeem Butler has 16 catches for 405 yards and two touchdowns this season. (Photo: Ellie Parker)

Columbus has thrived on the ground, boasting one of the most lethal rushing attacks in the UFL. They are fresh off a remarkable 179-yard performance on the ground and lead the league in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

The Aviators’ identity is in the run game, with four of the top ten rushers in the league: John Lovett, ZaQuandre White, Toa Taua, and quarterback Jalan McClendon.

The biggest test will be whether Columbus can control the game on the ground and keep its offense on the field. They need to prevent St. Louis’ elite front seven from teeing off.

However, the Battlehawks lead the league allowing just 72 rushing yards per game. It’s the best rushing attack against the best run-prevention group in the UFL.

Protecting McClendon is a critical aspect for the Aviators if they want to pull off the upset. Just last week, St. Louis’ defense completely took over the game and allowed just three points and 12 rushing yards to the Louisville Kings.

They lead the league in sacks and have lived in the backfield all season. Protection is not just a key, it’s a necessity for Columbus. They need to be disciplined up front and ward off St. Louis’ violent pass rush. When going to the air, McClendon needs to be sharp in the quick game, which he has been this season.

If he’s stuck in third-and-long all night, the Battlehawks hold the advantage.

The Battlehawks defense leads the UFL in least yards allowed per game and gave up just three points in last week’s win over Louisville. (Photo: Ellie Parker)

Up Next: St. Louis will be home again next week, when it hosts the first of two straight games against the Houston Gamblers.

The teams will first meet next Saturday, May 16, for a 2 p.m. game at the Battledome. Then they’ll meet again in two weeks, in Houston on May 24 at Shell Energy Stadium.

Next week’s game will air live on ABC. The game in Houston will be on ESPN2.

2026 ST. LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS SCHEDULE

DateTimeAtOpponentLocationTVResults
March 28, 2026 (Saturday)11 amHomeDC DefendersThe Dome at America’s CenterW, 16-10 (1-0)
April 7, 2026 (Tuesday)7 pmAwayDallas RenegadesToyota Stadium / Frisco, TXFS1L, 31-15 (1-1)
April 12, 2026 (Sunday)2 pmHomeBirmingham StallionsThe Dome at America’s CenterABCW, 34-30 (2-1)
April 18, 2026 (Saturday)11:30 amAwayDC DefendersAudi Field / Washington, DCABCL, 28-22 (2-2)
April 25, 2026 (Saturday)6 pmAwayOrlando StormInter&Co Stadium / Orlando, FLW, 25-17 (3-2)
April 30, 2026 (Thursday)7 pmAwayLouisville KingsLynn Family Stadium / Louisville, KYFS1W, 16-3 (4-2)
May 8, 2026 (Friday)7 pmHomeColumbus AviatorsThe Dome at America’s CenterFOX
May 16, 2026 (Saturday)2 pmHomeHouston GamblersThe Dome at America’s CenterABC
May 24, 2026 (Sunday)6 pmAwayHouston GamblersShell Energy Stadium / Houston, TX
May 29, 2026 (Friday)7 pmHomeDallas RenegadesThe Dome at America’s CenterFOX