UFL Playoffs: AJ McCarron, Battlehawks fall to Brahmas in XFL conference championship

The San Antonio Brahmas defeated the St. Louis Battlehawks 25-15 in the XFL conference championship to secure a spot in the inaugural UFL Championship.

Former Alabama QB A.J. McCarron led the way for the Battlehawks (7-4) but struggled against the stifling San Antonio defense. Brahmas (8-3) coach Wade Phillips dialed up the pressure throughout the game, leading to four sacks of McCarron.

McCarron went 19-for-29 with 179 yards and a touchdown in the loss while nursing an ankle injury.

Brahmas QB Chase Garbers was questionable with a wrist injury coming into the game but was able to play. Garbers went 15-for-21 for 197 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

More: UFL Playoffs: Matt Corral, Birmingham Stallions come from behind to beat Michigan Panthers

More: UFL Playoffs: 5 things to know about AJ McCarron, St. Louis Battlehawks before Brahmas game

Here are more observations from the Brahmas victory over the Battlehawks in the XFL conference championship:

Early miscues stall Battlehawks offense

The Battlehawks offense struggled to get going in the first quarter. They went three-and-out on their first drive, which featured dropped passes by all-UFL performers Jacob Saylors and Hakeem Butler on second and third down. The Brahmas marched downfield, but St. Louis safety Kameron Kelly intercepted Garbers in the end zone to keep San Antonio off the board.

The Battlehawks' second drive was more disastrous than the first. After a pair of runs by Saylors got them a first down, the Battlehawks tried a double-reverse flea flicker. Wide receiver Darrius Shepherd was hit as he tried to pitch the ball back to McCarron, leading to a fumble recovered by San Antonio in the red zone. Garbers shook off the early interception with a touchdown pass, and the Brahmas converted the one-point attempt to take an early 7-0 lead.

The Battlehawks only managed 71 total yards and three points in the first half, going 0-for-4 on third downs and giving up two sacks. They trailed 13-3 at halftime.

Brahmas shred Battlehawks defense with huge plays

In last week's loss to the Battlehawks, the Brahmas' offensive production largely relied on Jontre Kirklin. Kirklin had seven catches for 127 yards and a touchdown, but no other Brahmas receiver had more than three catches or over 40 receiving yards. The running game also struggled with John Lovett and Anthony McFarland out, as the Brahmas only rushed for 56 yards.

This week, the offense was much more balanced and explosive. The Brahmas gained 410 total yards with 213 coming on the ground.

Garbers found a wide-open Marquez Stevenson for the first score of the game from 15 yards out. On the first play of the second quarter, Garbers hit Justin Smith on a go route, and Smith ran away from the defense for a 68-yard score.

The big plays continued in the second half. McFarland broke free for a 69-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that made it 19-3. After two quick Battlehawks touchdowns cut into the Brahmas' lead, Lovett got them into field goal range with a 30-yard rush.

AJ McCarron battles through injury

McCarron injured his ankle at the end of a loss to the Birmingham Stallions on May 11. He missed the Battlehawks' next two games and was still undergoing treatment on the ankle ahead of Sunday's playoff matchup. On the final play of the second half, McCarron took a hit, and a Brahmas defender landed on the injured ankle. He remained down on the field for a few minutes before limping into the locker room.

McCarron returned to play the second half and persevered through the injury the rest of the way. He answered the long McFarland run with the Battlehawks' first touchdown drive, hitting Butler for a highlight-reel catch on a fourth-down conversion to set up a goalline touchdown pass to Jake Sutherland.

On the ensuing Brahmas drive, defensive lineman Pita Taumoepenu returned a fumble for a touchdown. With the score at 19-15, the Brahmas added another field goal late in the third quarter to make it a seven-point game.

McCarron brought St. Louis back into field goal range, but Andre Szmyt missed from 50 yards out. San Antonio kicked another field goal on the ensuing drive to create the 25-15 final score.

What's next?

The Brahmas will play the USFL champion Birmingham Stallions (10-1) for the first-ever UFL Championship on Sunday, June 16, in St. Louis. The Brahmas were the only team to defeat the Stallions during the regular season, winning 18-9 on May 25 in San Antonio.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: UFL Playoffs: Brahmas top Battlehawks in XFL championship; score, takeaways