Photos: Battlehawks lose XFL conference championship to Brahmas 25-15
The St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks lost the XFL Conference Championship game to the San Antonio Brahmas 25-15 at the Dome at America's Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks wide receiver Hakeem Butler holds back linebacker Travis Feeney as running back Wayne Gallman II holds back a taunting San Antonio Brahmas cornerback Teez Tabor following a Battlehawks 25-15 loss of the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
Battlehawks quarterback A.J. McCarron leaves the field following his team’s 25-15 loss to San Antonio in a UFL semifinal playoff on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in the Dome at America’s Center.
St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht embraces linebacker Travis Feeney outside the locker room following a 25-15 loss to the San Antonio Brahmas during the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
San Antonio’s Justin Smith breaks free on a 63-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, a key play in the Brahmas’ victory over the Battlehawks in the XFL Conference title game on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in the Dome at America’s Center.
Battlehawks fans Tammy and John Grant cannot believe their eyes while watching the San Antonio Brahmas convert a first down in the XFL Conference championship game, a UFL semifinal contest, on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in the Dome at America’s Center.
Battlehawks receiver Hakeem Butler bobbles the ball before securing it, stepping out of bounds before he could score a touchdown in the first half of his team's loss to San Antonio in the XFL Conference championship game on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in the Dome at America’s Center.
Brahmas wide receiver Marquez Stevenson catches a pass, eluding the grasp of Battlehawks defender Mike Hampton, in the second quarter of the XFL Conference championship game on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in the Dome at America’s Center.
St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks wide receiver Hakeem Butler catches a first half pass against cornerback Bryce Thompson during the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
Battlehawks quarterback A.J. McCarron passes against San Antonio in the first quarter of the XFL Conference championship game on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in the Dome at America’s Center
UFL co-owner Dany Garcia greets fans before the St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks play the San Antonio Brahmas at the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht waits in the tunnel before leading his team to the field to play the San Antonio Brahmas at the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
Nathan Barnes, 13, and his father Ryan Barnes came dressed for the occasion with other Junior Indians football players from Wentzville as they await team introductions before the St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks play the San Antonio Brahmas in the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
Former St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Rams great wide receiver Torry Holt greets St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks wide receiver Hakeem Butler and Mikala McGhee, the 2024 Mrs. Missouri, after delivering the game ball before the Battlehawks play the San Antonio Brahmas at the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
Former St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Rams great wide receiver Torry Holt bows to cheering St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks fans after delivering the game ball before the Battlehawks play the San Antonio Brahmas at the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
Members of the Madison County (Ill.) Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard await taking the field to present the colors before the St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks play the San Antonio Brahmas at the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
San Antonio Brahmas running back John Lovett heads for a long third quarter gain against the St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks during a 25-15 loss at the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
Battlehawks quarterback A.J. McCarron is helped up by tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith in the fourth quarter of their club's 25-15 loss to San Antonio in a UFL semifinal playoff game on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in the Dome at America’s Center.
St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks defensive tackle Tautala Pesefea Jr. (93) and safety Dravon Askew-Henry (29) celebrate stopping San Antonio Brahmas running back Morgan Ellison for a loss in the fourth quarter at the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks linebacker Travis Feeney pressures Brahmas quarterback Chase Garbers in the fourth quarter of a 25-15 loss to San Antonio at the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks wide receiver Darrius Shepherd turns the corner in the fourth quarter after catching a pass during a 25-15 loss to the San Antonio Brahmas at the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks quarterback A.J. McCarron walks off the field following a 25-15 loss to the San Antonio Brahmas during the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks wide receiver Jahcour Pearson looks for blockers as he makes a fourth quarter gain during a 25-15 loss to the San Antonio Brahmas at the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks wide receiver Hakeem Butler walks off the field following a 25-15 loss to the San Antonio Brahmas during the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
San Antonio Brahmas cornerback Teez Tabor offers the ball to St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks fans after recovering a second half fumble during a 25-15 win over the Battlehawks in the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Battlehawks fan Nathan Harrin, second from left, joins his friends in the ‘Hawks Nest’ during a 25-15 loss to the San Antonio Brahmas at the XFL conference championship at the Dome at America’s Center on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
Robert Cohen
Staff Photographer
The chants of ka-kaw were replaced by boos Sunday night in the Dome at America’s Center.
In Sunday’s 25-15 loss to the San Antonio Brahmas, everything was a letdown, from the Battlehawks’ play to even the attendance.Â
Viewership-measuring company Nielsen says that 6.8% of the St. ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë market watched Battlehawks' first playoff appearance.