The chants of ka-kaw were replaced by boos Sunday night in the Dome at America’s Center.
The once-potent offense of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Battlehawks was at a low point at halftime, having scored one touchdown in the previous three halves.
Quarterback A.J. McCarron, who returned to the team in 2024 to win a championship, hobbled off the field at the break, looking as if his day was over in a United Football League conference championship game.
The Battlehawks followed suit, struggling from start to finish as their dream of playing for the UFL title at home was doused by San Antonio’s 25-15 win.
The Brahmas, coached by Wade Phillips and now XFL Conference champions, will take on USFL Conference winner Birmingham for the championship Sunday in the dome, a scenario that does not bode well for attendance.
The disgruntled reaction from 30,237 fans seemed to be focused on the heavy concentration of running plays employed by the Battlehawks. McCarron, who was playing on a badly injured left ankle, didn’t complete a pass in the first quarter — two were dropped — and he had just four completions at halftime.
Jacob Saylors, an all-UFL running back, was the featured weapon. Although he had a few big runs, ºüÀêÊÓƵ could not generate consistent movement on the ground. Meanwhile, the Brahmas moved the ball at will, racking up 410 total yards.
San Antonio built its lead to 19-3 in the third quarter with its second big touchdown play of the game. An early 63-yard TD pass was compounded by a 69-yard TD run by Anthony McFarland.
The Battlehawks stuck with McCarron in the second half despite his proclamation on live TV that he was struggling with the injury.
He led a scoring drive capped by a 1-yard pass to tight end Jake Sutherland, but the 2-point conversion attempt failed. The Battlehawks then received a huge break when Pita Taumoepenu scooped up a San Antonio fumble and went about 15 yards for a score. Again, a 2-pointer failed.
The conversion issues were a late-season trend for the Battlehawks and part of an overall downturn in scoring.
The game had a continuation of the offensive flow of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ season. The Battlehawks started by scoring more points in each successive game through the first five weeks. They then began a scoring slide that was not helped when McCarron missed two games.
By the time they reached the regular-season finale, the Battlehawks scored a season-low 13 points and somehow turned it into a win.
As much relief as the Battlehawks felt after beating San Antonio in that game, there was an equal feeling that the work was only half done.
“It was super weird,†receiver Hakeem Butler said. “Although we won, it felt like it was only halftime. That’s how I approached the week. There was still another part of the game.â€
After both teams had a week to make adjustments, the Brahmas quickly had the upper hand. San Antonio carried some of the momentum built in the second half the previous week into the first half while the Battlehawks sputtered badly.
Their first three possessions were lackluster, resulting in two punts, a lost fumble and 10 total yards. There were also some scattered boos, which built over time.
The Brahmas, meanwhile, were clicking from the outset. After a long opening drive ended with an interception, San Antonio produced touchdown passes of 15 and 63 yards to take a 13-0 lead.
The Battlehawks finally were able to move the ball, but what appeared to be a touchdown catch by Butler was ruled incomplete midway through the second quarter. They settled for a 46-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt to get on the scoreboard.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ had the final possession of the first half after a San Antonio punt and tried to generate something despite having 30 seconds with which to work. The final play saw McCarron tackled and go down grasping at his left ankle.
Viewership-measuring company Nielsen says that 6.8% of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ market watched Battlehawks' first playoff appearance.
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 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
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.