ST. LOUIS — In a game that felt more like a chess match than a shootout, the Arlington Renegades walked away from The Dome with a frustrating 9–3 loss to the St. Louis Battlehawks, dropping to 3–3 on the season and raising more questions about the offense’s ability to finish drives.
This was a game tailor-made for Arlington’s defense to carry them to a win—and they almost did. Willie Taylor continued his breakout campaign with two sacks, while Taco Charlton’s fourth-quarter strip sack gave the Renegades a lifeline in a game teetering on the edge. But the offense couldn’t capitalize when it mattered most.
A First Half of Missed Opportunities
The Renegades set the tone early with physical defense, forcing punts and delivering pressure. But a missed 44-yard field goal in the first quarter foreshadowed the kind of night it would be for Arlington’s scoring unit. St. Louis didn’t put up points until late in the second quarter, when quarterback AJ McCarron found Hakeem Butler on a 30-yard strike, capitalizing on a brief defensive lapse.
A 48-yard field goal before halftime gave the Battlehawks a 9–0 lead—an unusual but decisive margin in a contest where both defenses controlled the pace.
Second-Half Adjustments Fall Short
Arlington’s defense stiffened in the second half, repeatedly getting off the field and even forcing a red-zone takeaway. Charlton’s forced fumble set up a short-range field goal by Lucas Harvisik, trimming the lead to 9–3 early in the fourth. It felt like a potential turning point.
Then came the drive. Dae Dae Hunter, quiet for much of the night, finally found lanes and burst through for two key gains that pushed Arlington deep into Battlehawks territory. But just as the momentum shifted, a fumble recovery by St. Louis extinguished the spark. The Renegades wouldn’t seriously threaten again.
The Big Picture
This loss wasn’t about effort—it was about execution. The defense did its job, even with the pressure of playing from behind. The Renegades forced multiple punts, won the turnover battle, and held St. Louis to just one touchdown. But when the offense can’t convert short fields into touchdowns, or turn late-game possessions into points, it becomes a recipe for disappointment.
With a critical matchup looming against the USFL conference-leading Michigan Panthers (3–2) next Saturday, Arlington has little time to dwell on the sting of missed chances. The defense has proven it can keep the team in games. Now, it’s on the offense to finish them.
