The Dallas Renegades snapped a brutal six-game losing streak with a stunning 20-16 upset victory over the St. Louis Battlehawks at The Dome at America's Center, sending their 2026 season out on a triumphant note despite missing the playoffs.
Austin Reed threw three touchdown passes without an interception in what head coach Rick Neuheisel called "a blast" of a performance from a team that refused to fold under adversity. The Renegades defense dominated with seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss against a Battlehawks squad that had already secured a playoff berth.
Tough Times Don't Last, Tough People Do
Neuheisel didn't hide his emotions after watching his team battle through one of the most challenging stretches imaginable. The first-year Dallas head coach delivered a passionate postgame message about perseverance that went far beyond football.
"This game needed a victory. I mean, you go 6 weeks in a row without tasting victory, it's a rotten taste in your mouth. And yet we kept coming to work, we kept working at it. I kept pushing them and we got the desired result. Whether they realize it now or not, it will be a lesson for them in their lives. When adversity strikes, you just keep grinding. Tough times don't last. Tough people do."
The victory carried extra meaning for a team that could have easily checked out weeks ago. Instead, they competed like their playoff lives depended on it in the hostile environment of The Dome.
Reed's Personal Battle Behind the Scenes
While Reed carved up the Battlehawks defense for 162 yards and three scores, the quarterback was fighting a much more important battle off the field. His twin daughters remain in the NICU, adding an emotional weight to every snap he's taken this season.
"Obviously, the off-the-field stuff is the off-the-field stuff. I think that's been well documented at this point. The girls are doing great. They're getting closer and closer to going home. They're still in the NICU, but they're taking their feeds and everything, which is great. You try to be a pro when you're on the field and when you're in the locker room and when you're at practice, and there's a lot of stuff going on off the field that you're dealing with, and it's tough."
Reed's professionalism through personal crisis exemplified the character Neuheisel raved about all season. The quarterback hopes his daughters will someday look back at this moment with pride.
Clutch Performance in Hostile Territory
Reed thrived when the pressure peaked, leading a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter that showcased exactly why he belongs on a football field. His touchdown pass to Emmanuel Butler proved to be the difference maker.
"That's what you get paid to do," Reed said about performing in clutch situations. "Going to score to take a lead in a hostile environment. That's where you determine whether you're an elite player or not."
Defense Dominates Against Luis Perez
The Renegades defense put on a clinic against former teammate Luis Perez, pressuring the pocket passer relentlessly. Neuheisel credited the ability to travel an extra defensive lineman for keeping fresh bodies on the field.
DaMarcus Mitchell and Kevin Strong each recorded two sacks as Dallas picked apart a Battlehawks offense that had been clicking throughout their playoff push. The 10 tackles for loss represented one of the most complete defensive performances of the season.
Building Toward 2027
Despite the disappointing 4-6 record, Neuheisel walked away from his first season as Dallas head coach with genuine optimism about the foundation they've built. The relationships forged through adversity will serve as the bedrock for whatever comes next.
"Football is about relationships, and I've made some great ones and forever thankful for that. Renegades of '26 are done, but it'll be a team that I'll remember fondly for the rest of my life."
The coach admitted he'll "know a heck of a lot more" heading into next season, having drafted this team on just two weeks' notice after taking the job on New Year's Eve. That experience, combined with the character shown in this final victory, gives Dallas legitimate reason for hope as they head into the offseason.