After a crushing and underwhelming loss to the D.C. Defenders the Battlehawks are staying in the “Hub” and take on the Arlington Renegades. Both teams got off to 2-0 starts before falling in Week 3. The Battlehawks look to take sole ownership of 2nd place in the XFL conference, as St. Louis goes into their 3rd conference game.
Weather: Cloudy with rain ending in the afternoon. High near 75F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Location: Choctaw Stadium Arlington, Texas 12:30PM (ET) Kickoff April 19th, 2025 on ABC
Betting Odds Per Draftkings (April 18th):
Spread: Battlehawks -1
Moneyline: Battlehawks -115, Renegades -105
Over/Under: 39.5
Depth Chart:
Injury Report:
The Battlehawks will be with Hakeem Butler and Abdul Beecham once again this week. Starting Cornerback Bradon Sebastian was place on IR along with Chevan Cordeiro. Phil Hoskins who was limited this week is active and is questionable this week. EDGE Rusher Chris Garrett is Active and returns this week after missing the past Two weeks.
The Renegades will be without Tuzar Skipper who has been replaced by Taco Charlton who was recently signed this week. Skipper was released in lieu of the Charlton signing.
Inactives:
The Battlehawks have deactivated Kevon Latulas this week. Newly signed Avery Young will also be inactive this week. Myles Simms will be active in place of Brandon Sebastian.
The Renegades inactive will be the same as it was in Week 3.
Three Keys to Victory:
Surviving “Manny-Ball”:
After spending the first Two weeks as one of the UFL’s Top QBs, Week 3 saw Manny Wilkins ironically play similar to how he did against the Renegades in 2024. There is no doubt about Wilkins at this point. His arm strength is above average, his athleticism is elite, his chemistry with Jacob Saylors and Frank Darby unmatched. But as we saw last week sometimes that isn’t enough. Wilkins has a boom or bust output over his Five starts with the Battlehawks, when it’s good it’s great, when it isn’t it results in a 2:6 TD:INT ratio. If St. Louis can get comfortable and allow Wilkins to utilize some easy throws to settle him, the Battlehawks should see themselves with a victory this week.
Where did the Run Game Go:
The Battlehawks went into Week 3 as the UFL’s most prolific rushing offense. Despite the loss, St. Louis still is the league’s #1 Offense despite only rushing for 45 yards and passing for 148. MVP Frontrunner Jacob Saylors had only 1 rushing yard on 7 carries however, did manage to grab 7 receptions for 91 yards. At this point in the season Saint Louis has figured the formula on how to be successful, pound the rock and let the “Knights of Colombo” march. The Renegades however, will be no pushover as Arlington has allowed the UFL’s least amount of rushing yards (221 on 56 carries) through the first 3 games of the season.
He’s Not Mobile:
The Battlehawks remain 2nd in the league in sacks through 3 games with 7 (2.3/game). Despite playing mobile QBs like Nolan Henderson, Anthony Brown, Kellen Mond, and Jordan Ta’amu who routinely escape pressure, the Battleahwks front Seven will the elite but statuesque Luis Perez. Perez has never rushed for over 75 yards in a season and is much more known for his pocket presence than ability to take off. The Renegades Offense has allowed Six Sacks so far this season, and the Battlehawks bringing pressure from a rejuvenated Travis Feeney, Pita Taumoepenu, Carson Wells, and a healthy Chris Garrett, Saint Louis could feast this week making life very difficult for the “Spring King”.
Final Thoughts:
For both teams this is a must win game as the 2025 UFL season is almost at its midway point. For the Battlehawks the gameplan is simple. Run the ball, control the line of scrimmage, and limit mistakes. While it may be simplistic it’s the core elements of a successful football team. Though Arlington is extremely talented, I do believe the Battlehawks match up better ultimately. For Arlington to win it’s going to take a big effort Sal Cannella finding a mismatch on a Linebacker and even that might not be enough. For me the Battlehawks get back on track with over 150 Rushing Yards, and 3 plus sacks enroute to a 31-23 victory, and back in playoff position.
5 Comments
by Ken Granito
The time is 156 ET and I just shut off the TV. I am SO TIRED of the UFL favoring the Princess Battlehawks. Tired of it! When the Battlehawks were down by their two yard line they don’t call a hold on a terrible holding penalty, then they call an offensive pass interference penalty against the Renegades, then again they take the touchdown off the board. You know as well as I do the Battlehawks hold that way on every play. Against Houston, you say there wasn’t hold that was called for because he was blocking in from out, now the SAME exact play today was done and not corrected. I have been calling for you to be fair. I have a weekly picks pool with 17 people in it, but I will be explaining to all of them why I will never watch your league again. Sorry Mike P. You were great in the USFL. You are a clown in the UFL. I thought you had character, but you are really just phony people who want to see how much you can give to write a script. At least my day just opened up.
by Ken Granito
Imagine next year, when you are trying to get coaches that Bob Stoops doesn’t come back because you don’t respect him and the effort the Renegades bring. I am done with this crap. And Anthony Becht. Try as you will. You will NEVER be a head coach in the NFL…….at least not for a team that isn’t a joke. And by the way when a coach yells and your team is up by 3+ scores and you just yell and then scream “Let’s Go” You’re a dufus. Either grow up or be cool. Acting all cool and coming up with Let’s Go is so fake when you’re team is kicking the other team’s butt all over the field. Most of the players know it except for the other uncool players. Sorry Daryl. IF you ever want to get a real league together give me a call. This shit is so sorry.
by Ken Granito
Give the Renegades credit for beating both the Battlehawks AND the UFL itself. It was that bad. Mike Parreira used to be so excited to call the game. He looks embarrassed now. And for Anthony Becht what a shame to challenge that last play. I hope you know you look like an even bigger dufus now. AND ……… here is the silver lining. You, Anthony Becht, have left your own team short a proven quarterback. You have done that. You beg the UFL to make your team look good. The same thing that AJ McCarron has done for two seasons. You now have an opportunity to prove you are more than stupid. Go out and sign someone proven to quarterback this team so the league does not have to look stupid making all these awful calls on your behalf. The league wants St. Louis to be good so your fans will continue to flood the dome. Please, Anthony, EARN IT!!!!
by Ken Granito
Making one thing clear, when I say AJ McCarron. I mean that he has made your team look good for two seasons, although he has at time cried. I thought that was on him. Seeing your whole team, that’s clearly on you, beggar.
by Ken Granito
I did turn the game back on to see the last drive with two uncalled holding penalties on Jake Sutherland, movement and holding on the line on most of the plays. This and you had the NERVE to call that 15 yard penalty against Jarveon Howard. IF St. Louis does not improve their QB situation, let them sink or swim based on football. Don’t gift them anything. Don’t lose the rest of the league for this one team. Remember you are going to get two new teams. That is 9 teams you would then be screwing to run an unjust league.
Remember, big plays are hard to come by. that holding call is nothing that St. Louis doesn’t do EVERY SINGLE PLAY. So you are trying to get fans. They finally get one play to get excited about and you take it away. The holding really occurred as Perez was getting passed the player. You gave them that call. Birmingham has a home opener that started while raining and a good crowd comes. You take away every opportunity to cheer for what? So you can do something else that isn’t real. Are you really telling me that Arlington committed no penalties until the 3rd quarter and that one the defensive end had to jump over the line and point to the left tackle. Even then the official looked like……”What am I supposed to do now?” “You guys just told me not to call the penalties. What do I do now?”
You have really lost me. but good luck figuring it all out.