Week 4 of the UFL season saw a shakeup to the rankings after St. Louis, who started the season looking the best, had seen their level of play fall dramatically in the last 2 weeks. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Brahmas got their first win of the season on the road against the DC Defenders, who were undefeated heading into week 4.
The Crown Holder and the Court Jester
- Crown Holder 👑: San Antonio Brahmas
The Brahmas claimed the Crown with a 24-18 road victory over the DC Defenders, signaling a shift in their season trajectory. - Court Jester 🃏: Memphis Showboats
Memphis holds onto the Court Jester title after a 27-9 loss to the Michigan Panthers, with no team dropping a game to them to relinquish it.
If a team defeats the Crown Holder, they steal the Crown and become the new Crown Holder.
If a team loses to the Court Jester, they become the new Court Jester, thus freeing the previous team from being the Court Jester.
1. Birmingham Stallions (3-1)
Previous rank: #1
- Week 4 Result: Defeated Houston Roughnecks 23-16 on the road
- Week 5 Opponent: vs. Memphis Showboats
- Week 4 Synopsis: Birmingham solidified their top ranking with a hard-fought road win, totaling 357 yards. Deon Cain and Davion Davis hauled in touchdown passes, and the defense limited Houston to 64 rushing yards. The taste of victory was soured by losing quarterback Matt Corral to injury late in the game.
- High Point: Limiting Houston’s running backs to just 41 rushing yards.
- Low Point: Losing Matt Corral to injury late in the game.
- UFL Week 4: UFLNH Team of the Week Honorees:
- 1st Team: WR Deon Cain, WR Davion Davis, DE Bradlee Anae, DT Perrion Winfrey, LB Tae Crowder, S JoJo Tillery, P Colby Wadman (7 players)
- 2nd Team: RG Deonte Brown, K Harrison Mevis (2 players)
- Total Players Named: 9
2. Michigan Panthers (3-1)
Previous rank: #3
- Week 4 Result: Defeated Memphis Showboats 27-9 at home
- Week 5 Opponent: at St Louis Battlehawks
- Week 4 Synopsis: Michigan dominated Memphis with 369 yards and scored touchdowns on all 3 of their red zone trips. Bryce Perkins passed for 200 yards and two touchdowns, while Nate McCrary fueled the run game.
- High Point: Arnold Tarpley’s second-half interception in Michigan territory killed Memphis’s momentum as they attempted to keep pace with Michigan.
- Low Point: Losing linebacker Javin White to injury for the remainder of the season.
- UFL Week 4: UFLNH Team of the Week Honorees:
- 1st Team: QB Bryce Perkins, RB Nate McCrary, LT Ryan Nelson, LG Jake Burton, C Noah Johnson, S Arnold Tarpley (6 players)
- 2nd Team: RB Toa Taua, DT Walter Palmore, DT Garrett Marino, LB Frank Ginda, LB Donavan Mutin, CB Adonis Alexander, S Kai Nacua (7 players)
- Total Players Named: 13
- Reason for Rank Change: Michigan rose one spot as the Battlehawks dropped down the rankings. Michigan had a convincing win over Memphis, highlighting their offensive and defensive balance.
3. Arlington Renegades (3-1)
Previous rank: #4
- Week 4 Result: Defeated St. Louis Battlehawks 30-15 at home
- Week 5 Opponent: vs. DC Defenders
- Week 4 Synopsis: Arlington’s defense shone, forcing three turnovers and notching six sacks and 2 defensive touchdowns. Despite only putting up 209 total yards of offense, Arlington still won the battle of having the most yards as they held St. Louis to just 157.
- High Point: Nine tackles for loss and two interceptions showcased a suffocating defense.
- Low Point: A high frequency of their rushes being stopped. Kalen Ballage was held to just 8 yards on 9 carries.
- UFL Week 4: UFLNH Team of the Week Honorees:
- 1st Team: CB Jayden Price, CB Ajene Harris (2 players)
- 2nd Team: LG Marcus Minor, DE Chris Odom (2 players)
- Total Players Named: 4
- Reason for Rank Change: Arlington moved up one spot after a commanding defensive performance against St. Louis.
4. DC Defenders (3-1)
Previous rank: #5
- Week 4 Result: Lost to San Antonio Brahmas 24-18 at home
- Week 5 Opponent: at Arlington Renegades
- Week 4 Synopsis: DC outgained San Antonio 409-219 but faltered with a 1-3 red zone performance and 13 penalties. Braylon Sanders and Briley Moore-McKinney stood out, but miscues cost them the Crown.
- High Point: Sanders’ 87 yards receiving, including a 42-yard grab, kept the offense alive.
- Low Point: DC’s 13 penalties were by far the most in the league in week 4.
- UFL Week 4: UFLNH Team of the Week Honorees:
- 1st Team: WR Braylon Sanders, TE Briley Moore-McKinney, RT Mason Brooks, DT Joe Wallace, DE Derick Roberson (5 players)
- 2nd Team: QB Jordan Ta’amu, WR Cornell Powell (2 players)
- Total Players Named: 7
- Reason for Rank Change: DC slipped one spot after a home loss to San Antonio, with issues present in discipline and red zone execution.
5. San Antonio Brahmas (1-3) 👑
Previous rank: #6
- Week 4 Result: Defeated DC Defenders 24-18 on the road
- Week 5 Opponent: vs. Houston Roughnecks
- Week 4 Synopsis: The Brahmas started slow in weeks 1 and 2 before playing a very good game in their week 3 loss to Michigan. Now they have their first win after defeating DC on the road. San Antonio went 3-3 in the red zone and leaned on Matthew Sexton’s 83-yard punt return touchdown. Tavante Beckett’s 10 tackles bolstered the defense.
- High Point: Sexton’s 83-yard punt return touchdown.
- Low Point: Being outgained 409-219 in total offense is not a sustainable winning recipe.
- UFL Week 4: UFLNH Team of the Week Honorees:
- 1st Team: LB Tavante Beckett, Returner Matthew Sexton (2 players)
- 2nd Team: LT Willie Tyler, S Jordan Mosley, P Brad Wing (3 players)
- Total Players Named: 5
- Reason for Rank Change: San Antonio climbed one spot with a road win over DC.
6. St. Louis Battlehawks (2-2)
Previous rank: #2
- Week 4 Result: Lost to Arlington Renegades 30-15 on the road
- Week 5 Opponent: vs. Michigan Panthers
- Week 4 Synopsis: St. Louis crumbled offensively with 157 total yards and three turnovers. Arlington’s defense dominated, recording six sacks and nine tackles for loss.
- High Point: Willie Harvey’s eight tackles and interception offered a defensive bright spot.
- Low Point: Losing quarterback Manny Wilkins for the season to injury. To add insult to injury, Arlington’s defense scored a touchdown on the same play.
- UFL Week 4: UFLNH Team of the Week Honorees:
- 1st Team: LB Willie Harvey, K Rodrigo Blankenship (2 players)
- 2nd Team: DE Travis Feeney, LB Mike Rose (2 players)
- Total Players Named: 4
- Reason for Rank Change: St. Louis dropped four spots after a lackluster offensive showing for the 2nd week in a row. Weeks 1-2 were a stark contrast from what we have seen over the last 2 weeks.
7. Houston Roughnecks (1-3)
Previous rank: #7
- Week 4 Result: Lost to Birmingham Stallions 23-16 at home
- Week 5 Opponent: at St. Louis Battlehawks
- Week 4 Synopsis: Houston put up a fight with 328 yards, including 271 passing, but couldn’t stop Birmingham late. The defense surrendered eight tackles for loss, costing them the game. For the 2nd week in a row, Houston saw their starting quarterback go down to injury with Nolan Henderson leaving the game early. Jalen McClendon completed 22 of his 31 passes for 236 yards with 1 interception.
- High Point: A 271-yard passing effort kept them competitive until the end. Despite the injury to Nolan Henderson.
- Low Point: Just 64 rushing yards against Birmingham’s tough defense. The running backs combined for just 41 rushing yards.
- UFL Week 4: UFLNH Team of the Week Honorees:
- 1st Team: None
- 2nd Team: WR Justin Hall, WR T.J. Vasher, C Jack Kramer (3 players)
- Total Players Named: 3
8. Memphis Showboats (0-4) 🃏
Previous rank: #8
- Week 4 Result: Lost to Michigan Panthers 27-9 on the road
- Week 5 Opponent: at Birmingham Stallions
- Week 4 Synopsis: Memphis’s tough start to the season continued as they lost 9-27 on the road to Michigan. Memphis was held to 150 yards of offense while they allowed 369 from Michigan.
- High Point: The positive for Memphis is the sense of hope from the coaching staff and players to improve the level of play as a new offensive system is implemented following the departure of Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt, who stepped down prior to facing Michigan (for the second time this season). Jim Turner is the interim coach moving forward. Noel Mazzone was recently added to the team to be the new offensive coordinator and play caller.
- Low Point: An offense averaging under 3 yards per play went 1-10 on third downs.
- UFL Week 4: UFLNH Team of the Week Honorees:
- 1st Team: RG Nash Jensen (1 player)
- 2nd Team: TE Jalen Vandermyer, RT Nate Gilliam, CB Eli Walker, Returner Isiah Hennie (4 players)
- Total Players Named: 5
