In Week 9, the Seattle Sea Dragons face the St. Louis Battlehawks in a matchup that could make or break their season. Seattle must win their final two games for the easiest path to the playoffs in the super-competitive North Division. While there’s still a path to the post-season if Seattle loses their Week 10 game against the Vipers, a Week 9 loss solidifies the Battlehawks as the second seed in the North Division.
Seattle Sea Dragons (5-3) at St. Louis Battlehawks (6-2)
Kickoff: Sunday, April 16th at 12:00 pm PT
Where: The Dome at America’s Center, St. Louis, Missouri
TV: ESPN / ESPN+ / ESPN Xtra on Sirius/XM
Broadcast: Matt Berrie (Play-By-Play), Eric Mac Lain (Booth Analyst), Dawn Davenport (Field Analyst), Tiffany Blackmon (Reporter)
Betting Odds Per DraftKings Sportsbook
Spread:
Seattle Sea Dragons: +1
St. Louis Battlehawks: -1
Moneyline:
Seattle Sea Dragons: -105
St. Louis Battlehawks: -115
Over/Under: 46
Depth Charts
Seattle Sea Dragons Week 9 Depth Chart
Offense
1
2
3
QB
Ben DiNucci – 6 (Captian)
Stephen Montez – 12
Harrison Frost – 14
RB
Phillip Lindsay – 30
Darius Bradwell – 23
WR
Josh Gordon – 0
Damion Willis – 15
WR
Jahcour Pearson – 3
T.J. Hammonds – 19
Kelvin McKnight – 86
WR
Blake Jackson – 80
McLane Mannix – 82
WR
Juwan Green – 4
Jordan Veasy – 88
TE
Charlie Tamoepeau – 89
OT
Barry Wesley – 69
OG
Mike Menet – 72
Paul Gratten – 65
OC
Jared Thomas – 73
Tejan Koroma – 56
OG
Chris Owens – 55
Josh Seltzner – 70
OT
Colin Kelly – 67
Defense
1
2
3
DE
Niko Lalos – 97
Chris Smith – 42
Daniel Joseph – 96
DN
Antwuan Jackson – 52
Sama Paama – 50
DT
Austin Faoliu – 58
Tariqious Tisdale – 99
OLB
Elijah Ponder – 44
Shareef Miller – 48
ILB
Tre Walker – 8
Jardan Evans – 26
ILB
Clarence Hicks – 9
Tyrell Adams – 40
OLB
Tuzar Skipper – 51
Sharif Finch – 22
CB
Chris Payton-Jones – 5
Rojesterman Farris – 17
Mykael Wright – 16
CB
Linden Stephens – 21
Zafir Kelly – 36
Shabari Davis – 24
S
Bryce Thompson – 1
Qwynnterrio Cole – 32
S
Antoine Brooks – 2
Alijah Holder – 33
Special Teams
1
2
3
K
Dominik Eberle – 11
P
Cameron Nizialek – 10
LS
Thomas Fletcher – 45
KR
Kelvin McKnight – 86
PR
Kelvin McKnight – 86
Jahcour Pearson – 3
St. Louis Battlehawks Week 9 Depth Chart
Offense
1
2
3
QB
A.J. McCarron – 10
Nick Tiano – 14
Manny Wilkins – 5
RB
Brian Hill – 23
Mataeo Durant – 21
Kareem Walker – 0
WR
Hakeem Butler – 88
Marcell Ateman – 3
Steven Mitchell Jr. – 22
WR
Darrius Shepherd – 11
George Campbell – 15
WR
Austin Proehl – 13
Garry Jennings – 12
Chad Hansen – 19
TE
Jake Sutherland – 84
Jovani Haskins – 9
OT
Jaryd Jones-Smith – 75
Eric Magwood – 77
OG
Steven Gonzalez – 74
Daishawn Dixon – 79
OC
Mike Panasiuk – 61
Dallas Warmack – 55
OG
Vandal Alexander – 78
Christian Olmstead – 67
OT
Juwann Bushell-Beatty – 73
Defense
1
2
3
DE
LaCale London – 96
Taniela Tupou – 91
NG
Kevin Atkins – 90
Erik Hansen – 37
DE
Gelen Robinson – 99
Freedom Akinmoladun – 98
Sam LB
Silas Kelly – 29
Carson Wells – 53
Mike LB
Willie Harvey – 51
Mike Rose – 27
Tre Watson Sr. – 33
Will LB
Lakiem Williams – 6
JK
Elorm Lumor – 95
Travis Feeney – 56
CB
Brandon Sebastian – 38
Lavert Hill – 24
CB
Mike Hampton – 8
Elijah Hamilton – 1
Tim Harris – 4
FS
Lukas Denis – 25
Ben DeLuca (IR) – 28
LS
Chris Cooper – 39
Nate Meadors – 26
Jonathan Alexander – 17
Special Teams
1
2
3
K
Donny Hageman – 2
P
Sterling Hafrichter – 16
LS
Alexander Matheson – 47
KR
Brian Hill – 23
Darrius Shepherd – 11
PR
Darrius Shepherd – 11
Austin Proehl – 13
Injury Report
Seattle Sea Dragons
Colin Kelly – Ankle – Probable
Jordan Evans – Hamstring – IR
Antwuan Jackson – Knee – Probable
Daniel Joseph – Groin – Probable
Chris Smith – Illness – Questionable
St. Louis Battlehawks
Jon Alexander – Shoulder – Questionable
Mataeo Durant – Concussion – Out
Tim Harris – Groin – Out
Mike Rose – Ankle – Out
Vandal Alexander – Knee – Questionable
Steven Gonzalez – Back – Questionable
Nate Meadors – Concussion – Questionable
AJ McCarron – Shoulder – Questionable
Nick Tiano – Foot – IR
Seattle Sea Dragons (5-3) – St. Louis Battlehawks (6-1) Prediction
Seattle comes into Week 9 fresh off a 1-point loss to the D.C. Defenders and already in playoff mode, as a loss this weekend eliminates them from the playoff race. St. Louis comes into the week having just beat the Vegas Vipers without their starting quarterback A.J. McCarron. While quarterback Nick Tiano played well enough to get the win for St. Louis, he got injured late in the game and has been moved to the injured reserve. A.J. McCarron is currently a game-time decision but is trending toward playing against the Sea Dragons.
Despite the loss to D.C., Seattle’s offense has looked sharp over the last few weeks. Quarterback Ben DiNucci’s played some of his smartest football of the year, and the receiving core continues to show just how much talent it has. The recent signing of Phillip Lindsay did bring a small spark to Seattle’s rushing attack, but he was very limited in his debut against the Defenders, only carrying the ball 8 times.
Seattle’s defense has had their moments, but they’ve struggled in crucial situations all season. Areas of concern have primarily been a lack of pass rush, a lack of forcing turnovers, penalties in critical situations, and injuries piling up. This week’s signings of defensive lineman Tariqious Tisdale and cornerback Olaijah Griffin should help, but Seattle’s defense will have to step up against a talented Battlehawks squad fighting to keep their playoff spot.
With playoff seeding on the line for both these teams, this should be an exciting matchup between two of the XFL’s better offensive units. It’ll be a tall task going into the Battledome and securing a win at this point in the season, but I feel the Sea Dragons are currently the hotter team. Seattle’s been playing some of their best ball in recent weeks, and I’d expect running back Phillip Lindsay to see more of the action in Week 9. I give Seattle the edge in this game, but it should be another one that comes down to the wire.
Prediction: Seattle Sea Dragons 32 – St. Louis Battlehawks 28
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