UFL Week 2 roundup: 2-0 starts for XFL trio
The United Football League has three undefeated teams two weeks into its 2025 season, and all are in the XFL Conference. The Arlington Renegades, DC Defenders and St. Louis Battlehawks have gotten off to 2-0 starts in the league’s second season.
In the USFL Conference, the Birmingham Stallions and Michigan Panthers are on top at 1-1.
The other teams in the league – the Houston Roughnecks, Memphis Showboats and San Antonio Brahmas – are stuck at 0-2. The Brahmas represented the XFL Conference in last season’s UFL Championship Game.
In the UFL’s Week 2 contests:
- After starting quarterback Alex McGough got hurt on the first play, Matt Corral went the rest of the way under center and threw a 52-yard touchdown pass in wide receiver Deon Cain during a 21-12 victory over the Michigan Panthers on Friday night in Detroit.
- DC answered a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter by Memphis with one of its own – a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jordan Ta’amu to wide receiver Chris Rowland with 8:21 to play in the Defenders’ 17-12 victory over the Showboats on Saturday in Washington. Memphis wide receiver Jonathan Adams had nine receptions for 128 yards.
- Arlington safety Myles Dorn tackled Houston quarterback Anthony Brown on a two-point conversion attempt with 1:13 to play to preserve the Renegades’ 11-9 victory over the Roughnecks on Sunday in Arlington, Texas. Renegades quarterback Luis Perez’s 9-yard touchdown pass and 2-point throw to wide receiver Deontay Burnett with 10:31 to play had broken a 3-3 tie. Brown had an 18-yard TD pass to wide receiver Emmanuel Butler to pull Houston within two.
- Running back Jacob Saylors scored touchdowns on three consecutive St. Louis possessions in the Battlehawks’ 26-9 victory over the San Antonio Brahmas on Sunday night in St. Louis. Saylors scored on runs of 20 yards, 1 yard and 5 yards.
DC Defenders tight end Trae Berry makes a tackle on a punt return during a UFL game against the Memphis Showboats on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Audi Field in Washington.(Photo by Samuel Corum/UFL/Getty Images)
Seventeen players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the UFL’s Week 2 games:
Birmingham Stallions 21, Michigan Panthers 12
- Deonte Brown (Austin, Alabama) started at left guard for the Stallions.
- Stallions cornerback Shyheim Carter (Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.
- Stallions defensive end D.J. Coleman (Jacksonville State) was designated as a game-day inactive.
- Panthers outside linebacker De’Gabriel Floyd (Alabama A&M) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
- Garrett Marino (UAB) started at defensive tackle for the Panthers. Marino made one tackle.
- Stallions guard Lachavious Simmons (Selma) did not record any stats.
- Stallions wide receiver Austin Watkins (UAB) did not record any stats.
- Stallions wide receiver Marlon Williams (McGill-Toolen) had three receptions for 32 yards.
DC Defenders 17, Memphis Showboats 12
- Showboats wide receiver Dee Anderson (Alabama A&M) had four receptions for 30 yards.
- Long snapper/tight end Trae Barry (Spanish Fort, Jacksonville State) handled the snaps on five punts and four field-goal attempts and made two tackles on special teams.
- Defenders offensive lineman Gunner Britton (Auburn) did not record any stats.
- Tykeem Doss (Aliceville) started at left guard for the Defenders.
- Showboats cornerback Eric Garror (McGill-Toolen) made three tackles.
- Eli Stove (Auburn) started at wide receiver for the Showboats. Stove had a 42-yard reception and a 20-yard kickoff return. Stove also muffed a kickoff but recovered the football.
- Showboats tight end Jay Jay Wilson (Auburn) recorded one tackle on special teams.
Arlington Renegades 11, Houston Roughnecks 9
- Roughnecks defensive end Christopher Allen (Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive because of a groin injury.
- Roughnecks defensive tackle Shakel Brown (Troy) was designated as a game-day inactive.
- Sal Cannella (Auburn) started at tight end for the Renegades. Cannella had two receptions for 39 yards before taking a hard hit after a catch, losing a fumble and leaving to be checked for a concussion.
- Cam Carter (Minor) started at right offensive tackle for the Roughnecks.
- Keenan Isaac (Midfield, Alabama State) started at cornerback for the Roughnecks. Isaac made three tackles and broke up two passes.
- Roughnecks offensive tackle Avery Jones (Auburn) did not record any stats.
- Renegades defensive tackle DaVonte Lambert (Auburn) was designated as a game-day inactive.
- Roughnecks punter Mike Rivers (Troy) averaged 45.75 yards on eight punts. Rivers had a 48-yard punt returned 24 yards to the Houston 31-yard line, a 35-yarder returned 8 yards to the Arlington 46, a 48-yarder for a touchback, a 53-yarder for a touchback, a 44-yarder returned 18 yards to the Arlington 28, a 37-yarder downed at the Arlington 8, a 48-yarder returned 10 yards to the Arlington 34 and a 53-yarder returned 8 yards to the Arlington 14.
St. Louis Battlehawks 26, San Antonio Brahmas 9
- Brahmas wide receiver Kawaan Baker (South Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.
The UFL’s Week 3 schedule includes (all times CDT):
- Arlington Renegades (2-0) vs. Birmingham Stallions (1-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at Protective Stadium in Birmingham
- Houston Roughnecks (0-2) vs. Memphis Showboats (0-2) at 1:30 p.m. CDT Saturday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee
- San Antonio Brahmas (0-2) vs. Michigan Panthers (1-1) at 11 a.m. Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit
- DC Defenders (2-0) vs. St. Louis Battlehawks (2-0) at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.