Cyclones in the UFL: Week 1
Houston Gamblers quarterback Hunter Dekkers (8) scrambles during the game between Dallas Renegades and Houston Gamblers on March 28, 2026 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images A pair of athletes who at one time donned the cardinal and gold appeared in the first week of the 2026 United Football League season. Hakeem Butler, a member of the St.
Louis Battlehawks, was listed as inactive for their opening game – a 16-10 win against the defending champions, the DC Defenders. The Houston Gamblers took to the field with former Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers. Houston fell 36-17 to the Dallas Renegades.
Dekkers, who appeared in 19 games for the Cyclones between 2020 and 2022, replaced Nolan Henderson at quarterback by the fourth drive of the game for the Gamblers. The Hawarden native went 19-of-29 passing for 229 yards and had three carries for 28 yards and a touchdown. “To be honest, this receiver room is one of the better ones in the league in my opinion,” Dekkers said in the postgame press conference .
“In my opinion, it’s the best one. But obviously we couldn’t we didn’t show that showcase that today. But it’s just building chemistry day by day.
I mean, everyone just met each other four weeks ago. Building chemistry with receivers takes a lot of time. ” The Columbus Aviators fell 23-16 in a road game against the Orlando Storm.