Above Image Credit: KSDK
When: Sunday, June 7th, 6:00 PM EST
Where: The Dome at America’s Center (St. Louis, MO)
How to Watch: FOX (check your listings)
Part two of the UFL playoff doubleheader will see two top defenses in the Louisville Kings and St. Louis Battlehawks fighting to advance to the United Bowl.
From Royal Fools to Playoff Contenders
From Week 1, Louisville has shown why they deserved to have a football team of their own. Lead by Chris Redman, a Louisville QB legend in his own right, the team showed up ready to impress. Lynn Family Stadium sold out in their home debut in the UFL kickoff game on March 27th against the Birmingham Stallions. Sadly, their debut ended with their first loss as a team.
The first three losses were tough for them to handle, but then they went on a 6-1 run after trading QB Jason Bean to the DC Defenders and started QB Chandler Rogers. Since that day, he’s recorded 86 completions out of 138 for 1,119 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions.
However, the biggest factor keeping their playoff hopes alive has been the defense. Their top defensive standouts include Corey Mayfield, Jr., who is tied for the most interceptions (four) in the league. Plus, Cam Gill who now holds the UFL record for most sacks (10) in a single season. All of this is how they finished at 6-4 and got the #3 playoff seed.
Back to the Playoff Battleground
This Sunday will be the third consecutive UFL playoff appearance for the St. Louis Battlehawks but the first one for new head coach Ricky Proehl. Making it there is nothing new for them but trying to get to the championship is.
It has a roller coaster ride for St. Louis this season. They have been testing out QBs Brandon Silvers and Harrison Frost in the first few weeks only to ultimately stick with Frost as the starter. Then, circumstances caused St. Louis to quickly find a new quarterback, and they found one we haven’t heard from almost all season.
That quarterback would be the “spring king” himself, Luis Perez. The Dallas Renegades realized that Austin Reed’s skills could take them to bigger heights (or back down to Earth as they found out later) and traded the former XFL champion to St. Louis. However, it’s been rough for him since returning to the field. He’s recorded 86 completions out of 145 for 1,018 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions in the four games he played this season.
Louisville vs. St. Louis: UFL Playoff Final Prediction
The last time these two collided was Week Six when St. Louis dominated Louisville 16-3. Both teams went on different paths to the playoffs since then. The Kings ended their regular season with a 4-game winning streak while the Battlehawks split the ending.
However, I think the game is going to come down to the defensive power of these teams. Louisville has Gill while St. Louis has Pita Taumoepenu. Both men are top five defensive players in sacks and tackles for loss with Gill at the top for 10 sacks while Taumoepenu is fourth with 6.5 sacks. Gill also leads the UFL with 12 tackles for loss compared to Taumoepenu’s 9.
St. Louis would have to also watch out for Louisville’s Jaheim Thomas, who is 4th in the league with 65 tackles, and Jordan Mosley, who’s second with 2 forced fumbles. Louisville’s defense has been huge disruptors as of late, so you can expect them to cause more of it on the field. Plus, with the way he’s been playing lately, Perez is going to have a tough time keeping away from them.
