ARLINGTON, TEXAS — In a hard-fought battle on Saturday, the Arlington Renegades got back on track with a 30-15 win over the St. Louis Battlehawks in a game dominated by defense. The difference? Two defensive touchdowns by the Renegades that swung momentum and ultimately sealed the victory.
The first came in the opening quarter, when Chris Odom scooped up a fumble and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown. The play was marred by a serious lower leg injury to Battlehawks quarterback Manny Wilkins, who had to be carted off the field.
Arlington’s defense struck again in the final minute. Ajene Harris jumped a pass and took it to the house for a pick-six, closing the door on a potential Battlehawks comeback and putting the game out of reach.
The Renegades’ defense continues to shine this season, ranking among the league’s best in points allowed per game. Offensively, however, the unit struggled with consistency. Quarterback Luis Perez pointed to “mental errors and penalties” as the main issues.
Perez finished 17-of-25 for 1 touchdown and 1 interception—a pick-six that briefly gave St. Louis hope. But he bounced back quickly, leading a scoring drive capped off by a short touchdown pass to Javonta Payton.
That score proved to be the dagger, as Arlington improved to 3-1 and remained atop the XFL Conference standings.
The Renegades will stay home next week as they host the DC Defenders.
