ravon Askew-Henry #29 celebrates with Willie Harvey #51 of the St. Louis Battlehawks after recovering a fumble during the first quarter against the San Antonio Brahmas at The Dome at America’s Center on June 01, 2024 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/UFL/Getty Images)

It wasn’t pretty, in fact it looked like the Battlehawks would lose home field advantage for the XFL Conference Championship game until Brahmas kicker Ryan Santoso’s 51-yard field goal was barely tipped by St. Louis wide receiver Hakeen Butler in an unsuccessful 51-yard field goal with 12 seconds left. After a scoreless first quarter A.J.  McCarron hit Steven Mitchell Jr. with a 22-yard touchdown pass while throwing a 1-point conversion to take a 7-0 leader. St. Louis kicker Andre Szmyt increased the lead with a 32-yard field goal to take a 10-0 lead.  Tight end Kemari Averett blocked a 59-yard field goal for San Antonio with 16 seconds to preserve the lead going into half-time.

San Antonio running back Morgan Ellison rushed 6 yards for a touchdown to cap an eight-play, 75-yard march on their first drive cut the lead to 10-6 after a point after attempt failed. McCarron who missed two games with an ankle injury struggle by going 10-24 for 115 yards with 1 touchdown pass and 1 interception.  Darrius Shepherd had a big punt return, in the 4th quarter and put the team in great field go position. It looked like the team would score the game clinching touchdown, but the Brahmas defensive stop the Battlehawks and forced a 38-yard Andre Szmyt field goal to make the score 13-6 for St. Louis. Clint Dormady who came in for the injured quarterback Chase Garbers, connect at 51-yard touchdown pass to Jontre Kirklin.

It what appeared to be a game winner two-point conversion, Battlehawks coach Anthony Becht challenge call with his staff, saying there was an ineligible man downfield and won the challenge, and the two-point try was taken away. But San Antonio had one more chance, after stopping the Battlehawks and forcing them to a 3 and out, Clint Dormandy drove the team down field with 12 seconds left but Hakeem Butler saved the Battlehawk by barely blocking 51-yard field goal attempted to preserve the victory and home field advantage when the two teams meet again Sunday at 6 pm as St. Louis will host a post-season Conference Championship. It will be the first since the St. Louis Rams hosted the NFC Conference Championship against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022.