UFL: Battlehawks soar over Aviators in dominant performance

In a thrilling matchup, the St. Louis Battlehawks (5-2) defeated the Columbus Aviators (3-4) 31-20 on Ricky Proehl Night at the Battledome. The evening was filled with excitement as former members of The Greatest Show on Turf were in attendance, and the Battlehawks delivered a performance worthy of the occasion.

Strong start for the Battlehawks

The Battlehawks struck first after a solid defensive stop. Running back Jarveon Howard broke free for a 45-yard run, fumbling at the end, but Blake Jackson scooped it up and advanced deep into the red zone. Quarterback Luis Perez then scored on a one-yard rush, marking his first touchdown with the team. St. Louis continued to roll, with Perez connecting with Hakeem Butler for a 47-yard gain and later finding Steven McBride for a 14-yard touchdown, giving the Battlehawks a 14-0 lead after the first quarter.

Aviators fight back

The Aviators responded in the second quarter with a touchdown from backup quarterback Jalen Morton, who powered through defenders on a read option. However, the Battlehawks quickly answered with a 38-yard field goal from Ramiz Ahmed and a 14-yard rushing touchdown from Kylin James, extending their lead to 24-7 at halftime.

Columbus makes a push

After the break, Columbus came out with urgency, with DJ Miller Jr. intercepting Perez. Quarterback Max McClendon connected with Tay Martin for a touchdown, narrowing the gap to 24-14. But Kylin James answered with another touchdown, restoring a 17-point lead for St. Louis.

Final moments and defensive stand

In the fourth quarter, Columbus scored again, but a missed extra point left them trailing by two possessions. The Battlehawks’ defense held strong, finishing the game with three sacks and seven tackles for loss, securing their third consecutive victory. With the win, St. Louis improved to 5-2 and looks to extend their winning streak against Houston next Saturday.

Source: UFL