Week 6 of the UFL started off hot, as the St. Louis Battlehawks took down the Louisville Kings, 16-3, on the road Thursday night to hand the Kings their second straight loss.
Friday night, the Columbus Aviators secured their second victory of the season, topping the Houston Gamblers, 24-17, and bouncing back from last week’s 17-13 loss to them. Then Saturday, The DC Defenders, at home, crushed the Dallas Renegades, 24-6, thanks to a 17-point second quarter.
The slate ended with a thriller as the Birmingham Stallions upset the Orlando Storm 20-17.
Here are the results from Week 6:
Highlights from the Week 6 St. Louis Battlehawks-Louisville Kings game.
Key players: Battlehawks QB Harrison Frost (22-for-40 for 242 passing yards, two touchdowns), WR Hahkeem Butler (three receptions for 47 yards); Kings QB Chandler Rogers (15-for-32 for 199 passing yards, interception), WR Tarik Black (four receptions for 72 yards)
Game recap: The first half started off slow, but ultimately, the Kings looked more sound offensively. Kings quarterback Chandler Rogers finished the game going 12-for-23 for 133 yards, and wide receiver Tarik Black finished with two receptions for 55 yards. The Battlehawks’ first half looked chaotic, as Frost threw 8-for-20 and 122 yards. However, the team’s defense recorded two first-half sacks. Frost also found wide receiver Gary Jennings Jr. for a four-yard touchdown to take a 9-3 lead going into the break.
Frost and the Battlehawks figured it out at the start of the second half. St. Louis put up a touchdown with five minutes left in the third quarter, thanks to Steven McBride’s 11-yard catch. The Kings struggled through the second half, going scoreless while Rogers threw an interception in the final two minutes to solidify the win for St. Louis.
Up next: In Week 7, St. Louis will host the Columbus Aviators on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. The Kings will travel to Washington D.C. to face the Defenders on Saturday at noon PT.
Highlights from the Week 6 Houston Gamblers-Columbus Aviators game.
UFL – Houston Gamblers at Columbus Aviators
Key players: Aviators QB Jalen McClendon (20-for-26 for 187 passing yards, one touchdown), WR Tay Martin (six receptions for 103 receiving yards); Gamblers QB Nolan Henderson (6-for-10 for 60 passing yards, one touchdown), WR Lawrence Keys III (two receptions for 38 receiving yards, one touchdown)
Game recap: Columbus got revenge in its Week 6 rematch with the Gamblers, putting up a season-high 367 total offensive yards to secure their second win of the season. Quarterback Jalen McClendon was in full command as he threw 20-for-26 for 187 passing yards. Additionally, running backs John Lovett and Zaquandre White punched in one touchdown each. The Aviators’ defense played lights out, limiting Houston to just 185 total offensive yards. Defensive end Kenny Willekes anchored the defense, where he finished with six total tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss.
The Gamblers got on the board early in the first quarter but seemed to struggle through the rest of the game. In an attempt to ignite a comeback after trailing, 21-10, at halftime, the Gamblers reached the end zone only once in the third quarter, and a scoreless fourth quarter sealed their loss. Gamblers quarterback Nolan Henderson left the game injured, giving Taulia Tagovailoa the reins, but it wasn’t enough to catch up with the electric Aviators offense. On top of Henderson’s injury, Tagovailoa also went down with an injury, forcing third-string quarterback Jontre Kirklin to take over with 45 seconds left.
Up next: The Gamblers will host the Orlando Storm for a Sunday night matchup on FS1. The Aviators will travel to St. Louis to face the Battlehawks on Friday night, also on FS1.
Key players: Defenders QB Jordan Ta’amu (20-for-28 for 227 yards, three touchdowns and one interception); WR Cornell Powell (three receptions for 44 yards and one touchdown); Renegades QB Austin Reed (22-for-41 for 258 yards, one touchdown and one interception); WR Deontay Burnett (four receptions for 82 yards)
Game recap: DC earned its fifth consecutive win with a convincing victory at home over Dallas. In fact, all 24 of the Defenders’ points came in the first half, with Ta’amu throwing for three scores: a seven-yard strike to wide receiver Erik Ezukanma, a 13-yard pass to tight end Mason Fairchild and a 12-yard score to Powell, who reeled in the touchdown with one hand. Kicker Matt McCrane connected on a 56-yard field goal with 41 seconds remaining in the first half for the Defenders.
The Renegades were able to generate some pressure, with defensive end Tashawn Bower and linebacker Willie Taylor III each recording 1.5 sacks. With that said, Dallas was unable to finish drives, missed two field goals and finished the day with just 50 yards on the ground. DC improved to 5-1, while Dallas fell to 3-3.
Up next: The Defenders host the Louisville Kings for a Saturday afternoon matchup on FOX. The Renegades have a road tilt against the Birmingham Stallions in a Saturday night showdown.
Key players: Stallions quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (19-for-27 for 271 yards, one touchdown); RB Snoop Conner (16 carries, 61 yards and one touchdown); WR Justyn Ross (seven catches, 135 yards and one touchdown) LB Kyahva Tezino (seven total tackles, two for loss). Storm QB Jake Plummer (26-for-37 for 324 yards and two touchdowns); WR KJ Hamler (eight catches, 113 yards and one touchdown
Game recap: The Stallions (2-4) ended a four-game losing streak, edging out a victory over the dominant Storm (4-2). Birmingham jumped out to a 14-0 lead when Thompson-Robinson and Ross connected for an 11-yard touchdown. The Storm closed the first quarter on a strong note as Plummer led a touchdown drive, finding WR Chris Rowland for the score. They made it 14 unanswered points when Plummer found Hamler for a 5-yard touchdown on their next drive.
Orlando had opportunities to take the lead in the third quarter, but both its drives, including one with a goal-to-go scenario, ended with fumbles. Birmingham turned that second turnover into a field goal to take a 20-14 lead. The Storm added three on their following drive. Then, trailing 20-17 with 3:03 remaining, they opted to punt the ball back to Birmingham. Snoop Conner’s 7-yard first-down rush sealed the game and Thompson-Robinson kneeled it out.
Up Next: The Stallions host the Dallas Renegades in a Saturday night showdown. The Storm play at the Houston Gamblers Sunday, May 10 at 3 p.m. on FS1.
