AJ McCarron tosses 3 TDs as Battlehawks blitz Showboats

Quarterback AJ McCarron threw for 222 yards and three touchdowns Saturday to lead the St. Louis Battlehawks to a 32-17 home win over the Memphis Showboats.

Jacob Saylors added 103 yards on the ground on 15 carries as the Battlehawks outgained Memphis 355-127 in total yards.

Nursing a 20-17 lead going into the fourth quarter, McCarron found Jake Sutherland for a 7-yard touchdown connection to provide breathing room, then polished off the win with an 8-yard touchdown throw to Jahcour Pearson.

Memphis kept up for a half, trading scores, and even grabbed an early 6-3 lead on a 17-yard Case Cookus to Vinny Papale 17-yard touchdown pass.

McCarron answered with a scoring pass to Saylors, and Wayne Gallman II padded the lead with a 2-yard scoring run.

Memphis tied it with a Darius Victor 6-yard touchdown run and Matt Coghlin 28-yard field goal.

Andre Szmyt broke the tie with his 47-yard field goal at the end of the half, his second make of the day.