Former Mountaineer Guides XFL Team to Comeback Win

(Photo via WVU) 

It has been over two decades since former WVU Tight End Anthony Becht suited up for the Old Gold & Blue. The Pennsylvania native spent the entirety of his collegiate career (1996-1999) in Morgantown, tallying 83 catches for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns. This would propel him to his opportunity at the NFL where he would play for five different teams over twelve years.

After his retirement, Becht spent some time in the broadcast booth with ESPN before trying his hand at coaching. His first chance to be a head coach came in 2019 with the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). This wouldn’t last long, however, as the league went under before their first season in-operation was even complete.

It would take him four years, but Becht has once again landed a head coaching gig – this time in the XFL.

In the league now owned by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Becht was selected as the Head Coach of the St. Louis BattleHawks. The organization participated in their first game of the 2023 spring season yesterday, and to say it was one for the ages would be an understatement.

Trailing 15-3 with less than two minutes to play, Becht and the BattleHawks used the league’s progressive rules to their advantage en route to a come-from-behind 18-15 victory over the San Antonio Brahmas.

The game was widely regarded as the best of opening weekend for the league. With many praising the team’s fight and unwillingness to go down, it’s easy to assume that Becht will be a rising star in the coaching ranks before we know it.

Becht and the BattleHawks (1-0) travel to take on the Seattle Sea Dragons (0-1) this Thursday. The game is set for a 9 p.m. kickoff and will be televised on FX.