Donny Hageman kicked a 44-yard field goal on the game’s final snap as quarterback AJ McCarron and the St. Louis Battlehawks rallied for their second nail-biting XFL victory in five days on Thursday night.

On Sunday, St. Louis opened the season with an 18-15 victory over the San Antonio Brahmas as McCarron threw for two touchdowns and a 3-point conversion in the final 85 seconds.

On Thursday night, the Battlehawks rallied to take the lead twice in the fourth quarter, finally beating the Seattle Sea Dragons 20-18 on Hageman’s kick as time expired at Lumen Field.

McCarron called his teammates “a bunch of dogs.”

“This team never quits,” McCarron said. “I’m just so proud of these guys. I really am. This team means a lot to me.”

St. Louis trailed by one point when McCarron connected with wide receiver Hakeem Butler for a 44-yard touchdown with 7:08 to play. The Battlehawks chose to try to a 2-point conversion, but the pass from the 5-yard line was incomplete, leaving St. Louis in front 17-12.

A 33-yard pass from quarterback Ben DiNucci to wide receiver Josh Gordon launched Seattle’s bid to retake the lead, and former Gadsden City High School standout Jordan Veasy put the Sea Dragons back in front when he caught a fourth-down pass for an 8-yard touchdown with 1:21 to play.

Leading 18-17, Seattle chose to try for a 3-point conversion from the 10-yard line, but DiNucci’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage.

McCarron got St. Louis’ final drive started with consecutive scrambles for 11 and 12 yards. An 11-yard completion to wide receiver George Campbell moved the Battlehawks into Seattle’s half of the field. A 7-yard run by former South Alabama running back Kareem Walker preceded an incompletion.

With St. Louis facing third-and-3 at the Seattle 35-yard line with five seconds to play, McCarron connected with wide receiver Austin Proehl for a 9-yard gain that put the Battlehawks within Hageman’s range.

“A hell of a drive by AJ working the clock,” St. Louis coach Anthony Becht said.

Hageman had hit the left upright on a 36-yard attempt and connected on a 44-yard field goal in the third quarter and come up short on a 50-yard attempt with St. Louis leading 17-12 in the fourth quarter.

Until the final drive, it appeared the game might be one of missed opportunities for the Battlehawks, who trailed 12-0 after Seattle’s third possession.

A fumble by McCarron resulted in a 15-yard loss on a third-down snap from the Seattle 24-yard line, Hageman missed his first field-goal attempt after a muffed punt put St. Louis on the Sea Dragons 23, the Battlehawks got only a field goal after recovering a fumble at the Seattle 42 and another missed field-goal attempt followed a fourth-and-1 stop at the Sea Dragons 35.

McCarron completed 22-of-36 passes for 184 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. The former Alabama All-Amercan also was the Battlehawks’ leading rusher with 41 yards and one touchdown on five carries.

McCarron scored St. Louis’ first points on a 1-yard plunge to cap a 14-yard, 72-yard drive with 7:26 left in the first half.

DiNucci completed 19-of-29 passes for 196 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. DiNucci threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jahcour Pearson, then completed a 3-point conversion pass as the Sea Dragons took a 12-0 lead with 14:50 left in the first half.

The Battlehawks return to the field on March 5, when they visit the D.C. Defenders at noon. FX will televise the game.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.