UFL WEEK 5 RECAP

DC at BIRMINGHAM

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A wild first quarter saw both offenses get out to a hot start. Following a huge opening kickoff, DC was able to get on the board early when Jordan Ta’amu hit Javon Antonio with a perfectly placed ball in the end zone. New Stallions QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson responded both in the air and on the ground, gashing the defense and finding Deon Cain for the response. A missed extra point gave the defenders a 7-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

 

It looked like DC was about to put the game away early, as two quick touchdowns, including a perfectly executed 45 yard option run gave them a 21-6 lead. Birmingham wouldn’t lay down and die, though. Just before the half, Thompson-Robinson found TE Jordan Thomas, keeping the Stallions alive and heading into halftime down only one score, 21-13. 

 

Keeping the momentum going, Birmingham started out hot in the second half. The stallions needed only 4 plays to score, as RB Snoop Connor punched it in from the goal line. DC responded right away as Ty Scott found the end zone for the second time in the game. 

 

An interception by former first round draft pick Gareon Conley crushed Birmingham’s spirit, and DC scored in bunches for the remainder of the game. A late touchdown helped Birmingham save a little face, but the Defenders won big, 45-28.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

 

While it may not have translated to a win, this is by far the best the Stallions have looked, and that’s in large part to Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Sitting at 1-4 it might be too little too late, but it looks like they’ve finally found their QB1 moving forward. 

 

It truly feels like the only thing that can stop DC is themselves. The defense may have given up 28 points, but it never felt like they were in danger of losing this game. Unless the prolific DC offense has one of their rare off-days in the playoffs, they’ll be back-to-back champs this year. 

 

ST. LOUIS AT ORLANDO 

 

The first half of the game was all St. Louis. Beginning with an opening drive for a touchdown, the Battlehawks just seemed to be more composed in every aspect of the game. The Orlando defense slowed down St. Louis as much as they could, but the offense was nonexistent. In the first half, the Storm had a mere 29 yards of offense, compared to 250 for STL, but still somehow only entered the half down 18-0, thanks in large part to two turnovers from their defense. 

 

The second half seemed like it was going to be more of the same, as Orlando stalled on their first drive and St. Louis scored immediately, this time with a Harrison Frost scramble Orlando was able to finally stop the bleeding when Jack Plummer connected with Elijah Badger for a short touchdown. On the very next drive, the special teams blocked a punt and gave their offense the ball on the St. Louis one yard line. Elijah Dotson punched it in, and despite the absolute lopsided stats, Orlando entered the fourth quarter down by a mere 11 points. 

 

With under two minutes to go, Orlando was able to kick a field goal and bring the game to within eight points. The Storm converted a 4th and 12 onside attempt to keep their miraculous comeback alive. Orlando was able to drive down inside the Battlehawks 40 yard line, but the St. Louis defense came up big one more time, and the Battlehawks survived a near collapse, 25-17.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

 

Despite looking like the game was going to slip away from them, St. Louis held tough. They are 3-2 but they’re the only team to beat DC and Orlando this season, showing how difficult the first half of their schedule has been. Frost was serviceable, but it would be shocking if they don’t turn to Perez for the back half of the season. 

 

They say you learn more from a loss than you do from a win. On the Spring Kings podcast, we talked about wanting to see how Orlando handled adversity. While they didn’t get the win, it was reassuring to see them make an incredible comeback. This team has grit, and that was one of the major question marks for them. They might just be for real after all. 

 

COLUMBUS AT HOUSTON 

 

The first quarter of this game was all Houston. The Gamblers have notoriously gotten off to slow starts, so it was a great sign to see them have a long drive ending in a touchdown, followed by another touchdown drive that took them into the second quarter. 

 

Conversely, Columbus was not able to maintain the rushing game that dominated Dallas the week prior, and found themselves quickly down by two scores. When your team is built to run, getting down by multiple scores early is a recipe for disaster. 

 

A deep strike by Jalen McClendon set Columbus up for success, and QB sneak allowed the Aviators to score a crucial touchdown to keep themselves in the game. Shortly after, Columbus found the end zone again and were down just one point at halftime. 

 

Both teams struggled to convert fourth down attempts in the third quarter and the field position battle was finally won by Houston who kicked a chip shot field goal to extend their lead 17-13 early in the fourth quarter. Columbus answered with a drive that heavily featured Toa Taua but K Ryan Coe shanked an easy field goal attempt. A second drive deep into Gambler territory ended in disaster when Jalen McClendon fumbled the ball inside of the 10 yard line. Houston held on to win 17-13.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

 

Being blunt, Houston didn’t win this game, Columbus lost it. So many miscues and dumb mistakes throughout the game cost them dearly. This is a 1-4 team who could be 3-2 if they could just get out of their own way. With only 10 games in a season, it seems like that’s a wrap for the Aviators this year. 

 

Houston, meanwhile, could easily be 0-5, yet here they sit at 2-3 with a puncher's chance at the playoffs. The defense is markedly improved, and the run game seems to be finding itself, but they’re going to need to take another leap forward in production if they plan on being serious playoff contenders. 

 

LOUISVILLE AT DALLAS 

 

The first quarter of the game was a defensive showcase, with sacks and fourth down stops happening back and forth. Louisville K Tanner Brown hit an early field goal, but it wasn’t until early in the second quarter when things started to explode. Nearing the goal line, Renegades QB Austin Reed threw a pick six as Kings CB Bryce Hall took it to the house and Louisville started with a surprising 10 point lead. 

 

Things went from bad to worse as Reed threw another interception on the very next drive and Louisville capitalized with a short touchdown run by Ian Wheeler. Dallas was able to respond with a goal line punch of their own, but a second field goal just before the half saw Louisville extend their lead 19-7 going into the half. 

 

It looked like the Renegades were finding their rhythm in the second half, as Austin Reed connected with Curtis Hodges on a 25 yard touchdown to close the gap 19-13. Just when it seemed like Dallas had solved their offensive woes, Austin Reed threw INT #3 and the Kings offense kept rolling. Rushing touchdown number three for Wheeler expanded the Kings lead 33-13. 

 

When it seemed the Renegades found rock bottom, they found out it can always get worse. Austin Reed’s 4th interception resulted in a second pick six and Louisville crossed the 40 point threshold. Curtis Hodges remained the lone bright spot for Dallas, getting another long reception, and Emmanual Butler came down with a Randy Moss-like touchdown for some nice highlights for the Renegades, but the game was over. Louisville wins 47-25. 

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Renegades are beaten, battered, and bruised. Their heavily injured defense can not seem to stop the run at all, and Austin Reed is experiencing a fall from grace of epic proportions. Adding insult to literal injury, “Spring King” Luis Perez was traded to St. Louis as it seemed like Dallas had their QB of the future. Thankfully for Dallas they got off to that hot start, and if they can get healthy they might be able to salvage their season.

 

It’s hard to tell if this Kings offense has finally come to life, or if they just took advantage of a wounded opponent. Their defense, however, is clearly legit and is likely the third best squad behind St. Louis and DC. They’re going to have to pull another upset or two, but if they do, they might find themselves inside of the playoffs instead of the Renegades. 

 

WEEK 6 SCHEDULE: 

 

Battlehawks (3-2) @ Kings (1-3) Thurs 4/30 8 PM on FS1

Gamblers (2-3) @ Aviators (1-4) Fri 5/1 8 PM on FOX 

Renegades (3-1) @ Defenders (4-1) Sat 5/2 12 PM on ABC 

Stallions (1-4) @ Storm (4-1) Sun 5/3 4 PM on FOX