St. Louis Battlehawks at Birmingham Stallions

This was the game that was circled on everyone’s calendar this season. XFL Conference leaders St. Louis Battlehawks, hit the road to take on the USFL Conference leaders, the Birmingham Stallions.

After losing the first game to the Michigan Panthers, the Battlehawks went on a hot streak winning five straight games with three by at least 16 or more points. Led by UFL touchdown passer leader AJ McCarron, the Battlehawks have the best scoring offense (28.8), but the defense is the top unit in the UFL.

Birmingham is the model of excellence at 6-0 as the Stallions haven’t lost a game since last May 13 against the Houston Gamblers. The Stallions have the best passing and rushing offense in the UFL thanks to the performance of quarterback Adrian Martinez, who has taken the league by storm.

St. Louis Battlehawks at the Birmingham Stallions Preview

Game information

Line: Stallions -3.5, O/U 47.5

Date/Location: Saturday, May 11, 2024 at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama

Start time: 4:00 PM EST

Weather forecast: Sunny, 77 degrees

TV/Streaming: Fox, Fox Sports app

Injury report

It will be another game where the Battlehawks will be without former All-XFL defensive tackle Austin Faoliu as he is out with a left ankle injury. Concerns on offense surround wide receiver Marcel Ateman (illness) and tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith (left knee), who are both listed as questionable.

Birmingham have three players offside, two of them in defence. Cornerback Lorenzo Burns (left arm, neck) and linebacker DeMarquis Gates (left arm, neck) will not play. Amari Rodgers (concussion) is also sidelined.

Depth charts

St. Louis looks set to have Ateman and Jones-Smith in the starting lineup, but both will be worth monitoring should they be ruled out. Kobe Smith and Tautala Pesefea Jr. will be the nose tackles on the depth chart.

It will be Martinez’s third straight start at quarterback with Matt Corral as his backup. Gary Jennings will return kickoffs and Isaiah Zuber will be the kickoff returner in place of Rodgers. Nevelle Clarke, Daniel Isom and Madre Harper will start at corner with Mark Gilbert, who is dealing with his own injury, on the bench.

Keys to Victory

As good as these two teams are on paper, it will come down to practice. Stallions coach Skip Holtz has a proven track record of success, losing just three games in two and a half seasons, with a big reason being how disciplined his teams are. Battlehawks coach Anthony Becht has also been able to find talent to grow and flourish under him, but this will be the biggest game of his head coaching career.

Birmingham have changed their identity this year, with the passing game being their friend instead of being balanced. Martinez will be called upon to carry the offense, but he must understand that keeping the offense in St. Louis off the field is essential.

McCarron and his Battlehawks offense have been known for creating big plays with the help of receivers Hakeem Butler, Ateman, Darrius Shepherd and Jachour Pearson. Getting the ball in their hands early and often is a plus for St. Louis.

foresight

It should be a preview for the UFL Championship and hopefully live up to the hype. The league promoted McCarron’s return to the state where he played in college and is the weekend’s only game on national television. This is a great opportunity not only for both teams to see where they stand on the field, but a good indication of how the league is viewed by the general public. At the end of the day, one team proved to be the dominant force in spring football and one of the best teams in spring football history.

Birmingham Stallions 30, St. Louis Battlehawks 28

You can watch Anthony Miller on X @ByAnthonyMiller.

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