UFL: St. Louis Battlehawks hold off Storm, hand Orlando first loss
In a thrilling matchup, the St. Louis Battlehawks (3-2) defeated the Orlando Storm (4-1) 25-17, handing Orlando their first loss of the season. The game was defined by a dominant first half from St. Louis, who built a 25-0 lead before holding off a late surge from the Storm.
Battlehawks dominate early
St. Louis wasted no time establishing control, with quarterback Harrison Frost connecting with Hakeem Butler for a 27-yard gain on third down, followed by a 16-yard pass to Tyler Neville. Kylin James capped off the opening drive with a one-yard touchdown, although a missed conversion left the score at 6-0. Frost started strong, completing his first five passes as the offense found its rhythm.
The Battlehawks’ defense was equally impressive, forcing Orlando to turn the ball over on downs. Amani Bledsoe, making his debut for the Storm, intercepted a tipped pass, but St. Louis quickly regained momentum. A fourth-down stop by Michael Ojemudia set the tone for a relentless defense, and James Bostic added a highlight-reel touchdown, extending the lead to 12-0.
Orlando fights back but falls short
Orlando struggled to respond, with Jashaun Corbin fumbling the ball, leading to a recovery by Trey Dean III. St. Louis capitalized on the turnover, with punter Ryan Sanborn stepping in to kick a 36-yard field goal, pushing the lead to 15-0. By halftime, the Storm had managed just 29 total yards and trailed 18-0.
The second half began poorly for Orlando, as another turnover on downs allowed St. Louis to score again, making it 25-0. However, the Storm finally found their rhythm, with Elijhah Badger catching a four-yard touchdown pass to get on the board.
Despite a blocked punt by Konner Fox that set up another touchdown, Orlando’s comeback efforts fell short. They struggled on third down, converting only 3 of 14 attempts, and could not capitalize on key opportunities.
As the Battlehawks prepare for their next game against the Louisville Kings, the Storm will look to regroup and bounce back from their first defeat of the season
