Becht Faces Former Team as Unbeaten Orlando Hosts St. Louis
by Ethan Berch
ARLINGTON, TX – April 21, 2026 – For the past three seasons, Orlando head coach Anthony Becht coached the Battlehawks. On Saturday night, he’ll face them for the first time. Across the field, St. Louis head coach Ricky Proehl once coached under Becht, adding another layer to a matchup filled with familiarity.
Now, the two meet sideline-to-sideline for the first time. The Storm enter as the UFL’s only unbeaten team at 4-0, while St. Louis sits at 2-2, searching for consistency.
Storylines to watch:
St. Louis Battlehawks
The Battlehawks find themselves right in the middle of the pack at 2-2, still searching for offensive rhythm. In response, they made a move this week, acquiring Luis Perez ahead of Week Five.
There’s no question who drives this offense right now, Hakeem Butler. Despite playing just three games, Butler ranks second in the league with 311 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Last week, he caught only two passes, but both were game-changing plays, a 75-yard touchdown and a 34-yard jump ball in traffic.
The issue? Production beyond that has been limited. St. Louis completed just six passes in the entire game last week. Against an unbeaten Orlando team, that won’t be enough. The Battlehawks must find ways to generate offense more consistently and attack from multiple dimensions.
Perez’s arrival adds intrigue, but with limited time, it’s unlikely he plays a major role immediately. That puts the pressure back on Harrison Frost, who managed just 144 yards with an interception last week, to bounce back.
While the offense continues to search for answers, the defense has been the steady force.
St. Louis ranks second in the UFL with 10 sacks and fourth with 18 tackles for loss. Carlos Davis has led the charge with 2.5 sacks, anchoring a disruptive front. They’ve also allowed just 84 rushing yards per game, the second-best mark in the league.
That unit will once again be leaned on heavily as Proehl looks to knock off his former mentor.
Orlando Storm
For Becht, this one is personal, and so far, everything in Orlando is working. After going 22-8 in the regular season with St. Louis, he has the Storm off to a perfect 4-0 start and showing no signs of slowing down.
His biggest decision paid off immediately: naming Jack Plummer the starter.
Plummer has been one of the league’s most efficient quarterbacks, ranking second with 854 passing yards and seven touchdowns. He also leads the UFL in completion percentage and efficiency, throwing just one interception all season. His ability to protect the football has been a defining factor in Orlando’s success.
Behind him, the Storm boast the top offense in the league, averaging 307 yards per game. What makes them dangerous is their depth. With KJ Hamler out last week, Cam Camper stepped up in a major way. After not recording a catch through the first three weeks, Camper broke out with four receptions, 44 yards, and a touchdown in Week Four, a clear sign that Orlando’s offense doesn’t rely on just one or two playmakers.
Defensively, the Storm have been just as impressive. They’ve been dominant against the run, allowing a league-best 61 rushing yards per game, and consistently force opponents into one-dimensional game plans. Their front, featuring Keshawn Banks, Isaiah Buggs, Chris Garrett, and Tavante Beckett, has controlled the line of scrimmage week after week.
They’re coming off a shutout performance, the first in the UFL since 2024, and will look to carry that momentum into another statement game.
X-Factor:
With two of the league’s top rushing defenses on the field, running the ball won’t come easy. This game will be decided elsewhere.
If St. Louis can speed up Jack Plummer, they could control the game. If not, Orlando’s balance and efficiency on offense could once again prove too much.