ST. LOUIS, MO. - San Antonio wide receiver Jontre Kirklin set a Brahmas individual game high in receiving yards with 127, but it was the St. Louis Battlehawks that came away with a 13-12 win Saturday afternoon at The Dome at America’s Center. With the win, the Battlehawks (7-3, 5-1 XFL) swept the regular season series while clinching the No. 1 seed in the XFL Conference. St. Louis will host San Antonio (7-3, 3-3 XFL) again next week in the XFL Conference Championship.
The game came down to the wire. Down by seven with less than two minutes remaining, Brahmas quarterback Quinten Dormady connected with Kirklin for a 37-yard touchdown pass. San Antonio opted to attempt a two-point conversion to take the lead. Dormady found Kirklin again for a successful conversion, but St. Louis challenged the play for an ineligible man downfield. The challenge went in the Battlehawks favor, and San Antonio was unable to convert on the retry, leaving them one point short.
The Brahmas defense was able to force a quick three-and-out on St. Louis to have one final shot to win the game. San Antonio got into field goal range, but a 51-yard Ryan Santoso attempt sailed wide left.
Dormady completed 15-of-27 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown and an interception. San Antonio outgained St. Louis on offense in the loss, totaling 272 yards to 199 by the Battlehawks.
After going into halftime down 10-0, San Antonio opened the third quarter with a touchdown. The 75-yard drive was their longest of the afternoon, and it was Morgan Ellison that picked up the score with a six-yard touchdown run pulling the Brahmas within, 10-6.
St. Louis tacked on a field goal to extend their lead in the fourth quarter, 13-6, before San Antonio nearly completed the comeback.
Safeties Scott Nelson and Teez Tabor anchored the defense for the Brahmas on Saturday. Nelson tallied a season-high nine total tackles (eight solo), which led the team in both categories. Tabor finished with four solo tackles (two solo), a pass breakup and an interception which came off of A.J. McCarron in the final minute of the first quarter.
The Brahmas (7-3) and Battlehawks (7-3) will face off again Sunday, June 9, in the XFL Conference Championship. Kickoff is set for 6 PM CT on FOX. On the other side of the bracket, the Birmingham Stallions will host the Michigan Panthers in the USFL Conference Championship, kickoff scheduled for 2 PM CT on Saturday, June 8.