Battlehawks’ season ends in UFL playoffs

It was deja vu at the “Battledome.”

A rematch between the St. Louis Battlehawks and the San Antonio Brahmas felt like a redo for the team who lost the week before.

“It was super weird,” receiver Hakeem Butler said. “Although we won, it felt like it was only halftime. That’s how I approached the week. There was still another part of the game.”

The Brahmas won the “second half” 25-15 and claimed the XFL Conference championship on Sunday, June 9, in St. Louis. They will return to St. Louis for the third straight week to take on the USFL Conference champion Birmingham Stallions on Sunday, June 16 in the UFL Championship Game.

The Battlehawks started too slow and paid for it in the form of two first-quarter touchdowns for the Brahmas. A 46-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt was the only score the Battlehawks could come up with in the first half.

The slow first half was a surprise to the Battlehawks considering that the first offensive drive of the game ended with an interception in the end zone by defensive back Kameron Kelly, his third straight home game with a pick.

“I just feel like there was a little lack of focus to start the game,” Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht said. “That lies on me at the end of the day.”

The Brahmas picked up where they left off with a 69-yard rushing touchdown by Anthony McFarland Jr. to put them up 19-3.

The Battlehawks finally strike back with a touchdown drive capped by a 1-yard reception by tight end Jake Sutherland at the goal line. The defense then forced a turnover on a fumble recovered by Pita Taumoepenu, who then scored to put St. Louis within four points in a 19-15 game.

“We talked about how important it is to go out there and respond,” Taumoepenu said. “So that was our mindset the whole time. We gave it our best.”

The Battlehawks weren’t able to continue the momentum the rest of the way. They had three drives left in the game; the first resulted in a punt, the second ended on a missed field goal and the game was already over by the time the final drive ended on downs.

The last two scores of the game came from San Antonio kicker Ryan Santoso. It was a moment of redemption for him, as the previous game ended with him missing the potential game-winner with seconds remaining.

The Brahmas went 3-7 last season and weren’t expected to do much this season, despite a new head coach and roster makeover. 76-year-old coach Wade Phillips came over from the Houston Roughnecks and led the Brahmas to a 7-3 season (the second season in a row for Phillips) and playing for a championship for the first time in his long coaching career.

“I get to be around these guys,” Phillips said looking over to quarterback Chase Garbers and defensive tackle Prince Emili in the postgame press conference table. “They make you a little bit younger. It’s fun to be with this group because we get a lot of high-character guys who work hard and deserve what they get.”

For the old son of Bum, retirement is not on the table.

“My wife doesn’t like me hanging around the house,” Phillips said with a smile,” so I need to do something.”

For the Battlehawks, it was another successful spring for the players and the city of St. Louis, which demonstrated its viability as a football city.

“We’ve had two strong teams the past years,” Battlehawks linebacker Travis Feeney said. “I was glad I was able to be a part of it.”

The purpose of the league has long been to develop players for the NFL. Many players will patch themselves up and look for opportunities in the fall this summer.

“I learned a lot,” Taumoepenu said. “This experience is a great experience. I got coached by some of the best coaches in the country. I got to play with a bunch of great players. I’ve always believed we had the best team. We just came up short.”