As we gear up for the 2023 NFL Draft, we must remember that a football league is playing right now — the XFL.
The eight-team league just completed Week 8. One of the best teams, the St. Louis Battlehawks, reiterated why they're among the XFL elite in their 21-17 win Saturday over the Vegas Vipers.
Their victory had been in doubt, though, as they were down 17-8 with 5:06 left in the game. However, on a 4th-and-6 situation, punter Sterling Hofrichter took a direct snap on a fake punt and completed a pass. He lobbed the pass to the right side of the field to wide receiver Gary Jennings, who was wide open and then raced from about the 40-yard line to the end zone past two defenders, including Vipers receiver Mathew Sexton.
It was absolutely bonkers:
The reaction from Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht is also worth the watch:
This video of Coach Becht during the fake punt will be living in our heads rent free for at least 3-5 business days. pic.twitter.com/uFmOQSfs09
— St. Louis Battlehawks (@XFLBattlehawks) April 9, 2023
Following the touchdown, the Battlehawks were down 17-14. They attempted a 3-point conversion but failed. In the XFL, a 3-point conversion consists of snapping the ball from the 10-yard line and scoring.
The Vipers got the ball back but lost 20 yards across six plays in under three minutes.
The Battlehawks then used up 1:45 on 10 plays, kicked a field goal and reached overtime, where they went on to score two unanswered 2-point conversions.
Can The Battlehawks Win It All?
Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images
With their dramatic Week 8 victory, the Battlehawks are now 6-2. The team is led by quarterback A.J. McCarron — formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals, Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans — who last played in the NFL in 2020.
McCarron missed the Battlehawks' Week 8 game due to a shoulder injury suffered against the Houston Roughnecks. Despite missing the game, McCarron is second in the league in passing yards with 1,544 and leads in passing touchdowns (17), with just four interceptions.
McCarron's Battlehawks are assisted by a rushing attack led by running back Brian Hill (formerly of the Atlanta Falcons), who has 405 rushing yards.
Among receivers, McCarron's top target is former Arizona Cardinals draft pick Hakeem Butler, who's third in the league in receptions (42), fourth in receiving yards (435), third in targets (59) and tied for third in touchdowns (four). Fellow wide receiver Darrius Shepherd is also one of the better-performing players in the league, with 36 receptions, 363 yards and four touchdowns.
Just two games are left in the regular season for the XFL. The Battlehawks will host the Seattle Sea Dragons and Orlando Guardians to end the year. The only team with a better record than the Battlehawks is the D.C. Defenders at 7-1.
