UFL Week 9 Recap: The Final Stretch

We’re reaching the end of the United Football League season and there’s one team at the top: your St. Louis Battlehawks. The Battlehawks are now the only team with just two losses, giving them the top record in the league so far. But back-to-back dates with the rival DC Defenders loom on the horizon. Here’s how we got to this point in the UFL season as we prepare for the regular season’s final week and the playoffs:

Battlehawks 39, Brahmas 13

Everything clicked for the Battlehawks in their Week 9 dismantling of the Brahmas. In the first quarter, the Battlehawks held the ball for seven minutes, cashing out a 14-play, 77-yard drive with three points. In the second quarter, Battlehawks found the endzone three times - twice on offense, once on defense - to go up 21-10 at the half, thanks in part to this Micah Abraham scoop and score:

San Antonio kept it close until the fourth quarter, down just nine going into the final frame, but the Battlehawks broke the game open with two more touchdowns, including this dime to Hakeem Butler - but it’s not from Max Duggan.

Interestingly, Battlehawks coach Anthony Becht elected to sit Duggan, not due to performance, but to keep him healthy for the next two weeks. The recently re-signed Brandon Silver threw that touchdown pass to Butler. Becht said on Wednesday that the starters would play in Week 10 but probably won’t play the entire game.

The Battlehawks play their first of two consecutive games against DC at the Battle Dome next week, while the Brahmas mercifully end their putrid season at home against Arlington.

Read more about the Battlehawks’ big win on Sports Hub STL.

Stallions 26, Panthers 22

Death, taxes, and the Birmingham Stallions beating the Michigan Panthers. The Stallions have defeated their USFL rival for the seventh straight time, although the Panthers were missing MVP candidate Bryce Perkins for the second straight week and still made this close. Unfortunately, the historical records won’t indicate who was playing but will simply show the final score, which, yet again, favored the Stallions.

Danny Etling, Michigan’s backup, did an admirable job in relief. He was 23-39 for 236 yards and two touchdowns, including this dime to Siaosi Mariner, who had 115 receiving yards on the day:

The former Troy Trojan also engineered a late touchdown drive capped off by yet another Toa Taua one-yard run:

Toa Taua for the lead 😤

📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/pRmRqx53Pf

— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) May 24, 2025

But Stallions QB J’Mar Smith continued his string of excellent games with another stellar outing, throwing for 307 yards and two touchdowns of his own, including the game-winner to Deon Cain:

Despite Michigan giving it their best shot, Birmingham was able to punch back just that much stronger. Michigan wraps up at home against Houston next week, while the Stallions take on the Showboats in Memphis.

Renegades 30, Showboats 12

Not much to write home about here, as the Renegades took care of business against an inferior Showboats team. 2025 has been a rough year for the Showboats and might result in the team moving out of Memphis next season. 

At least for those in attendance this weekend, Arlington QB Luis Perez and WR Tyler Vaughns put on a show. Perez only threw for 206 yards, but based on the game film, you’d think he threw for over 400 — especially as he completed beautiful passes like these to Vaughns:

The pièce de résistance was this pitch and catch with Deontay Burnett to squash any hope of a Showboat comeback:

Having a day in the endzone!

📺: ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/u6LguCXfxl

— Arlington Renegades (@XFLRenegades) May 24, 2025

While Arlington will miss the playoffs this year, there’s a lot to be hopeful about next season as a Renegades fan. For Showboats fans, you might just want to worry about keeping your team around next season.

Roughnecks 24, Defenders 21

The Houston Roughnecks weren’t content to play out the stretch despite missing the playoffs — they were here to make some noise. A late-season upset of the DC Defenders has to be good news not just for Roughnecks fans going into next season, but Battlehawks fans looking forward to the next two weeks.

In my opinion, Houston needs to do anything it can to keep Jalan McClendon around. Based on his interactions with his teammates, the coaching staff, and the fans, everyone in Houston loves him. His teammates on both sides of the ball fight for him, and it’s clear he’s just as invested in their success as Roughnecks fans. That type of relationship only comes organically and needs to be fostered going into next season.

On the field, McClendon can sling it with the best of them, as evidenced by this pinpoint pass to Keke Chism:

This game also featured a rare sight: a two-point play returned to the opposite endzone for a “pick-2.” 

Pick-2!

📺: FS1 | @Verizon pic.twitter.com/7KGePbV7xA

— Houston Roughnecks (@XFLRoughnecks) May 25, 2025

In the end, DC was unable to catch up to Houston and dropped a game before their two-week date with the Battlehawks.

UFL Week 10 Schedule