In an intense XFL matchup at The Dome, the St. Louis Battlehawks edged out the Vegas Vipers with a 21-17 victory in overtime. With an official attendance of 35,166, the game didn’t disappoint as both teams fought hard to secure a win.
The Battlehawks, now 6-2, were down 11-8 at halftime but managed to bounce back and force the game into overtime. On the other hand, the Vipers, with a 2-6 record, started strong but ultimately couldn’t hold on to their lead.
Battlehawks’ quarterback Nick Tiano went 19-for-34, throwing for 194 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also had help from Sterling Hofrichter, who completed a 64-yard pass for a touchdown. The Vipers’ QB, Jalan McClendon, completed 13 of 23 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown.
In the rushing department, McClendon led the Vipers with 62 yards on 13 carries. Brian Burt added 57 yards on nine carries, while Rod Smith contributed 51 yards on 13 carries. For the Battlehawks, Nick Tiano rushed for 51 yards on eight carries, and Brian Hill added 35 yards on 10 carries.
Geronimo Allison led the Vipers’ receiving corps with two receptions for 44 yards and one touchdown. In contrast, the Battlehawks’ top receiver, Marcell Ateman, had four receptions for 67 yards. Gary Jennings caught a 64-yard pass for a touchdown, contributing significantly to the Battlehawks’ victory.
Defensively, C.J. Avery and Keylon Kennedy stood out for the Vipers, with Avery recovering one fumble and Kennedy making five tackles. For the Battlehawks, Willie Harvey Jr. made an impressive nine tackles, while Travis Feeney added eight tackles and a sack.
In the kicking game, both teams struggled, with each team’s kicker converting only one of two field goal attempts. The Vipers’ Sam Sloman scored a 23-yard field goal, while Battlehawks’ Donny Hageman successfully kicked a 34-yard field goal to send the game into Overtime.
The Battlehawks secured the win in overtime with two, two-point conversions. The first OT game in the modern XFL
The Battlehawks will look to continue their winning ways, while the Vipers will hope to bounce back and improve on their 2-6 record in the upcoming games. Fans from both sides were treated to an exciting game, and the thrilling overtime finish was a fitting end to a closely contested matchup.
XFL Box Score
