Showboats CB Kyree Woods intercepts a Max Duggan pass. photo by Toni Washington
by Don Mooney
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (May 11, 2025) – Football has been described as a game of inches. Today, nothing fancy. No spectacular aerial attack to speak to. A game less the flashy-dazzling running attack. Just two teams imposing their game plan and will on the other. On Sunday afternoon the St. Louis Battlehawks inched its way past the Memphis Showboats 19-9 on Sunday afternoon at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
A 44-yard field from Rodrigo Blankenship midway through the fourth quarter sealed the win for St. Louis (5-2). Memphis (1-6) had a chance to respond late but couldn’t convert a critical fourth-quarter drive into points, allowing the Battlehawks to run out the clock and secure the victory.
Former TCU QB Max Duggan running for score against Showboats. photo by Toni Washington
St. Louis set the tone on the opening drive as quarterback Max Duggan powered into the end zone with a 7-yard rushing touchdown. A successful 1-point conversion run by Jarveon Howard made it 7-0. After forcing a Memphis punt, the Battlehawks added a 53-yard field goal — the longest of the game — by Blankenship to close the first quarter up 10-0.
Memphis responded late in the second quarter when Dresser Winn connected with Jonathan Adams for a 5-yard touchdown pass, trimming the deficit to 10-6 after an 11-play, 77-yard scoring drive. Memphis looked to have the momentum going into intermission, but the Battlehawks put together a 78-yard scoring drive in just over one minute. Duggan found Jahcour Pearson for a touchdown and the Battlehawks carried a 16-6 lead into halftime.
Battlehawks led a consistent ground attack to gain victory over Steamboats. photo by Toni Washington
Midway through the third quarter, St. Louis forced a Winn fumble, with Kyler Baugh recovering for the Battlehawks. Memphis’ defense answered with a takeaway of its own, with Kyree Woods snagging an interception and returning it 36 yards. Woods’ pick set up a Matt Coghlin 27-yard field goal that brought the Showboats within one score, 16-9.
In the fourth, St. Louis held the Showboats’ offense in check and pieced together a steady drive of its own late in the game, capped by Blankenship’s 44-yard field goal that was responsible for the 10-point margin of victory.
Winn went 21-of-35 for 184 yards and 1 touchdown, out-dueling Duggan, who went 15-of-23 with 1 interception for 144 yards and a touchdown. Adams led the Showboats in receiving yards, with 69 on 4 receptions and the Showboats’ only TD. Four Showboats tied for tackles (5 each) – Steele Chambers, Eli Walker, Andrew Dowell and Keaton Ellis. Ellis has two TFLs. Three other Showboats tallied TFLS: DeVere Levelston, Jaylon Allen and Josiah Bronson. Allen and Levelston also had sacks in the game.
The Memphis Showboats take the field again on Friday, May 16, 2025 at 7 p.m. CT in San Antonio, Texas at the Alamodome.