Excessive-flying Battlehawks spotlight largest storylines from UFL Week 2

Eric Williams

NFL Reporter

Jacob Saylors led all operating backs final season on his method to incomes All-UFL honors, and it seems the 25-year-old is selecting up proper the place he left off, ending with 79 scrimmage yards and three scores within the St. Louis Battlehawks’ 26-9 victory over the visiting St. Louis Brahmas in entrance of 32,115 followers on the Dome at America’s Middle in Week 2.

“Jacob is taking part in his ass off as a result of he’s attempting to get again someplace (the NFL),” St. Louis quarterback Manny Wilkins stated. “That’s the one factor I preserve reiterating to those guys, and this league is doing such a great job of making a chance. That’s what this league is — it is an opportunity for guys to go on the market and present who you’re.”

[MORE: What is the UFL? Everything to know about the 2025 United Football League]

Via two weeks, Saylors leads the league in touchdowns (4) and is second in dashing yards (144).

Week 2’s recreation was a rematch of final yr’s XFL Convention closing, a recreation that the Battlehawks misplaced by double digits, 25-15. So, St. Louis earned a measure of revenge and continues to appear to be the crew to beat within the UFL this season.

Right here’s a take a look at different storylines from Week 2:

Battlehawks offensive coordinator Phil McGeoghan is on a heater

St. Louis has the highest scoring offense by way of two weeks, averaging a league-high 28.5 factors a contest.

On the forefront of the Battlehawks’ success is the artistic play calling of recent offensive coordinator Phil McGeoghan, who changed Bruce Gradkowski when he left to change into an offensive assistant for the Detroit Lions. A longtime receivers coach within the NFL, McGeoghan labored as an offensive assistant for 4 seasons with the Miami Dolphins alongside one of many brightest NFL offensive innovators in new Chicago Bears head coach, Ben Johnston.

St. Louis has scored seven touchdowns on 18 possessions and punted simply thrice by way of two weeks. It additionally leads the UFL in complete yards (388.5 per recreation), third down conversion share (59.3) and dashing yards (217.5 per recreation). What’s extra, the Battlehawks’ offense has completed that with 2024 UFL Offensive Participant of the 12 months Hakeem Butler having zero catches on track over that very same span.

“I’m actually happy with the best way Phil McGeoghan has referred to as performs the final two weeks,” St. Louis head coach Anthony Becht stated. “He is executed an unbelievable job within the quick period of time he needed to get this playbook collectively and get us rocking and rolling.”

Becht additionally stated don’t sleep on St. Louis’ protection, led by former NFL defensive again and present defensive coordinator Donnie Abraham. The Battlehawks are holding groups to a league-low 15.0 factors a recreation.

“Donnie is a man to me who by no means speaks to the media,” Becht stated. “He’s very unsung. No person desires to speak about him. Everyone else will get loads of credit score across the league for being good coordinators, however Donnie Abraham is the most effective coordinator within the league, in my view. He is obtained them ready. He is obtained buy-in, and he’s obtained credibility with the gamers as a result of he performed within the league on the highest stage.”

San Antonio Brahmas vs. St. Louis Battlehawks Highlights | UFL

Subbing for injured Alex McGough, Matt Corral helps Stallions rebound

In his second recreation again with the Birmingham Stallions, McGough needed to depart the sport early on account of a proper shoulder damage he suffered on their first offensive play on a quarterback run.

Corral was strong in McGough’s absence. The Ole Miss product completed 18-of-29 for 198 yards, together with a stunning 52-yard landing to Deon Cain that landed on the prime of our listing of the ten finest performs of the week.

“When the chance presents itself, you’ve obtained to be prepared,” Corral stated. “And that’s on no one else however your self.”

Corral was picked off twice, however extra importantly for Birmingham, head coach Skip Holtz obtained the operating recreation going. Final yr’s main rusher, Ricky Particular person Jr., totaled 55 dashing yards and a rating. Corral and Particular person’s efforts helped Birmingham defeat the Michigan Panthers (1-1) on the street, 21-12, night their document after a stunning season-opening loss to the D.C. Defenders.

Defenders begin with a stunning 2-0 document

Talking of the Defenders, interim head coach Shannon Harris’ squad continued their successful methods, incomes a 17-12 dwelling victory over the visiting Memphis Showboats (0-2).

Getting back from a season-ending ACL knee damage a yr in the past, operating again Abram Smith led the Defenders with 55 dashing yards on 16 carries, whereas Chris Rowland added three catches for 66 receiving yards.

Showboats receiver Jonathan Adams continued his robust early-season efficiency, posting 9 catches for 128 receiving yards. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt returned to the sidelines for the Showboats within the loss.

Memphis Showboats vs. DC Defenders Highlights | UFL

No shock right here: Luis Perez leads league in passing

With 375 yards passing by way of two video games, final yr’s UFL passing chief is as soon as once more sitting atop the league. The San Diego native accomplished 19-of-27 passes for 211 yards and a rating in an 11-9 victory over the Houston Roughnecks (0-2).

At 2-0, the Arlington Renegades are a recreation away from their three-game win complete of a yr in the past. Enjoying in opposition to his former crew in Houston, Renegades go rusher Chris Odom completed with three mixed tackles and a sack. Donald Payne led Arlington with 9 mixed tackles.

Protection dominates, as factors are down

The UFL averaged 43.7 mixed factors through the common season in 2024, which was greater than each the legacy USFL (42.3 mixed factors) and XFL (42.9 mixed factors) the earlier yr earlier than the merger.

Nonetheless, by way of two video games this yr, scoring is down, with video games averaging 32.8 mixed factors. Quarterback play has been a problem, as they’ve mixed to throw 10 landing passes and a head-scratching 13 interceptions.

With 4 touchdowns already this season, Saylors has extra touchdowns than all however three groups within the league by way of two video games.

Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, overlaying the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Observe him at @eric_d_williams.

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