Wide receiver Frank Darby celebrates a touchdown in the closing seconds of the first half of the Battlehawks’ 39–13 win over the San Antonio Brahmas on May 23, 2025. Photo by Marcelina Enriquez.
It’s that time of the year when many students at the high school and college level are fretting about their finals or end of course exams, but what if they already know they have passed the course no matter what they get on the last exam? That is similar to the situation that the XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks found themselves in coming into Week 9 of the UFL’s regular season. After defeating the Birmingham Stallions the previous week on the road, the Battlehawks had already secured their berth to the XFL Conference championship on June 8th at home in the BattleDome. With little to gain with a win against the San Antonio Brahmas, 1-7 on the season, head coach Anthony Becht would use the game as a chance to test out the other power tools he has in is work shed.
After Manny Wilkins went down with injury in week four of the season, backup and now starting quarterback Max Duggan has largely had success with his legs as he had rushed nearly 300 yards and had 5 rushing touchdowns coming into week 9 as compared to his 563 yards and 4 touchdowns passing. Though Mighty Max has shown he has the same fierce competitiveness as he had in his college days at TCU, there had been some concern with his passing accuracy, especially as the stakes will be more dire in the upcoming conference playoff game.
The offensive line would give Duggan the time he needed to find his composure in the pocket and throw for an admirable 12 of 17 passes completed, one touchdown (to wide receiver Frank Darby), and no interceptions while only running once for six yards. Along with the efficient running of starting running back Jacob Saylors and stellar defensive play from the Battlehawks—including a fumble forced and returned for a touchdown by Micah Abraham—St. Louis would go into the locker room at halftime up 21-10.
In the third quarter, the Battlehawks would let quarterback Brandon Silvers take the helm of the offense and let him, along with running backs Jarveon Howard and Kevon Latulas, get a chance to get in some bonus work before the playoffs.
Silvers is just the sort of player fans love to see excel in the UFL. Silvers played college at Troy University in Alabama. In his final two seasons, he led his team to winning records and bowl games, winning the Dollar General Bowl in 2016 and the New Orleans Bowl in 2017. Silvers would go undrafted in the NFL, but did get a shot in the New Orleans Saints minicamp without being signed. Silvers was signed as quarterback for the Memphis Express in the short-lived Alliance of American Football, where he would share playing time with the infamous Johnny Manziel.
Silvers would then get a chance with the New York Jets and then become the first quarterback for the XFL’s Seattle Dragons in 2019 before the Covid epidemic shut down the league in 2020. Silvers found himself the starter of the 2023 Houston Roughnecks, winning six of eight games and taking them to the playoffs. In 2024 he signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks and has been with the team since as a backup. In one half of play against the Brahmas, Silvers would complete 7 of 10 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. He played smart and confident, looking in total control of the situation while on the field.
Regular number two running back Jarveon Howard would do his part with strong up-the-middle runs for 60 yards on 12 attempts and one touchdown. Former Missouri State running back Kevon Latulas would get his chance to shine as he rushed for 66 yards on eight attempts and a touchdown as well.
In the end, the Battlehawks would handle the Brahmas 39-13 in front of a crowd of 27,890. Attendance was down a little due the holiday weekend, but those numbers are still the envy of most teams in the UFL. The St. Louis coaching staff most likely feel more assured about their bench players as they head into the post-season and have greater confidence in their chances of a UFL Championship even if injuries occur.
What will be interesting is how the Coach Becht and the Battlehawks will approach their last regular season game against the D.C. Defenders on May 30. As they already know they are facing the Defenders in the conference game, they might run more scrimmage plays and use the back-ups to keep players healthy and D.C. guessing about what their actual game plan will be on June 8 in St. Louis. On the other hand, the Battlehawks can go right at them and try to intimate the Defenders ahead of the playoff game. Either way, St. Louis fans are guaranteed at least two more exciting games to get their Ka-Kaw on as the very successful Battlehawks try to get to their much deserved, but so far elusive, UFL Championship Game on June 14 in St. Louis. | Ryan Parker
These are beautiful photos! Marcelina is an incredible photographer!!!