Darrius Shepherd #11 of the St. Louis Battlehawks runs with the ball while being chased by Mark Gilbert #28 of the Birmingham Stallions in the first quarter at Protective Stadium on May 11, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Butch Dill/UFL/Getty Images)

St. Louis Battlehawks fell short against the undefeated Birmingham Stallions 30-26 in the battle of the top two teams in the United Football League. The lead changed six times in a back-and-forth which neither team trailed by than more than one possession. With 5:23 in the 4th quarter Birmingham quarterback Adrian Martinez connect to Kevin Austin Jr.’s for the go-ahead 40-yard touchdown reception as the game-winning score.

Birmingham struck first by forcing an interception that led to a touchdown on their second possession of the game. The home team Birmingham Stallions dominated much of the first half of the game until Battlehawks Running Back Jacob Saylors put his team ahead late in the second quarter. But with 16 second until halftime, Stallions took the led again when Deon Cain caught a 3rd and 4 touchdown pass from Adrian Martinez to put the team back on top followed by 2-point conversion. With 5 seconds remain in the second quarter, Battlehawks place kicker Andre Szymt converted the longest field goal in team history when he made a 61-yard field go to trail 17-14.

The biggest star of the St. Louis Battlehawks was Jacob Saylors who accounted for 3 touchdowns including a pass from A.J McCarron in the 3rd quarter to put his team up 20-17. After the Battlehawks to 26-23 lead in the 4th quarter Kevin Austin Jr. caught the game winning touchdown pass to put the Stallion on top 30-26. The Battlehawks had one more miracle when the special teams blocked a point at midfield with 40 seconds left remaining of the game but could not convert a 4th down with 11 seconds left to secure the victory for the Birmingham Stallions. A.J. McCarron, who came back home to his home state of Alabama and won two College Football National Championships for the University of Alabama, was 19-32 for 161 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception. He was also hobble in the 4th quarter with an ankle injury and is listed as questionable for their next home game against the D.C. Defenders. The Battlehawks is still leading the XFL division at 5-2 and hope to get back on the winning track next Sunday in a rematch which they won against the Defenders 45-12.