Battlehawks Return to Dome for Friday Night Clash with Aviators
by Ethan Berch
ARLINGTON, TX – May 5, 2026 – After a four-week hiatus, the Battlehawks return to the Battledome as Week Seven commences, with a new face leading their offense. They are slated for a Friday night clash against the Columbus Aviators, who enter after a key victory and will look to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Storylines to watch:
Columbus Aviators
The Aviators needed a victory in order to stay in the postseason race, and they delivered in front of the Columbus faithful, securing a key 24-17 win over the Houston Gamblers.
Ironically, the Aviators have thrived on the ground, boasting one of the most lethal rushing attacks in the UFL. They are fresh off a remarkable 179-yard performance on the ground and lead the league in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
Columbus’ identity is in the run game, with four of the top ten rushers in the league: John Lovett, ZaQuandre White, Toa Taua, and quarterback Jalan McClendon.
The biggest test will be whether Columbus can control the game on the ground and keep its offense on the field. They need to prevent St. Louis’ elite front seven from teeing off.
However, the Battlehawks lead the league allowing just 72 rushing yards per game. It’s the best rushing attack against the best run-prevention group in the UFL.
Protecting McClendon is a critical aspect for the Aviators if they want to pull off the upset. Just last week, St. Louis’ defense completely took over the game and allowed just three points and 12 rushing yards to the Louisville Kings.
They lead the league in sacks and have lived in the backfield all season. Protection is not just a key, it’s a necessity for Columbus. They need to be disciplined up front and ward off St. Louis’ violent pass rush. When going to the air, McClendon needs to be sharp in the quick game, which he has been this season.
If he’s stuck in third-and-long all night, the Battlehawks hold the advantage.
Defensively, the Aviators need to make St. Louis beat them through the air. Facing the top rusher in the league in Jarveon Howard, stopping him is the focal point of their game plan.
If Columbus can tighten up against the run and force long-yardage situations on second and third down, they can put themselves in position to get off the field quickly.
St. Louis Battlehawks
The Battlehawks are fresh off two impressive victories and return to the Battledome as one of the hottest teams in the UFL. After handing Orlando its first loss of the season in Week Five, St. Louis thoroughly dominated Louisville in Week Six.
Now they return home, where they own a perfect 2-0 record and sit in second place, just one game behind the DC Defenders for the top spot. They will also play three of their final games in the Battledome.
Jarveon Howard enters Week Seven as the leading rusher in the UFL. He has generated numerous splash plays on the ground and has recorded 297 rushing yards.
Columbus owns the worst rushing defense in the league, surrendering an average of 125 yards per game. If St. Louis establishes Howard and the rest of its backfield, it can take over the game and open several other avenues for new signal caller Luis Perez to operate.
The attention is on Luis Perez, who was announced as the starter earlier this week by head coach Ricky Proehl, to produce for the Battlehawks. With a plethora of playmakers in the mix and a heavy emphasis on the rushing attack, he will have opportunities to win through the air.
If Columbus wants to stop the run, get Hakeem Butler going. Butler averages more than 25 yards per reception and ranks second in the UFL with 405 yards in just five games. Butler is always a threat to break the game open, and a big performance could be looming.
The story all season has been the ferocious Battlehawks defense.
They rank atop the league in sacks and have takeover ability. While Columbus relies on timing and rhythm, that is exactly what St. Louis takes away from offenses. If they once again cause chaos, it could be a nightmare for the Aviators.
Pita Taumoepenu came alive in Week Six. Taumoepenu racked up two sacks against Louisville, and unlocking the reigning Defensive Player of the Year is an added bonus for an already dangerous unit.
X-Factor:
Columbus simply needs to cause havoc. They may not have much success grinding out long drives and eating clock the way they have in the past against this St. Louis defense.
Creating turnovers and winning the game on the defensive side of the ball is crucial, while the Battlehawks will look to control possession against a team that usually does that better than anyone.