Birmingham Stallions Comeback from Behind to Defeat Houston Roughnecks

UFL week 7 continues with the Houston Roughnecks traveling to Birmingham to take on the reigning champion Stallions. Earlier this year the Roughnecks gave Birmingham a run for their money when Jalan McClendon came in for an injured Nolan Henderson in their last outing. There’s a lot on the line this week, mainly playoff chances as we near closer to the conclusion of the season.

Birmingham will be looking to take out Houston to stay at the top of the USFL division. A win today, keeps them ahead of the Panthers. A loss will allow the Roughnecks to move into a two-way tie for second place.

First Quarter

Jalan McClenmdon and the Houston Roughnecks started the game with possession. It looked like they were going to turn it over quickly, but McClendon connected with Hall to move the chains on third down.

McClendon was showing off his skills early. It looked like he was going to take a big sack, but he broke free and found Lawrence Keys open to move them into Stallions territory.

Houston ended the drive with McClendon handing it off to ZaQuandre White for the first touchdown of the afternoon. Coach Johnson opted to got one, but Lorenzo Lingard could not convert. Needless to say, Houston was still happy to hold a 6-0 lead over the 3-time champs.

Case Cookus came in to start the offensive effort for the Birmingham Stallions at the team works through their quarterback carousel due to injuries. Ricky Person Jr was doing his part for the team, moving the chains early in the drive.

Unfortunately for the Stallions, CJ Marable took a big loss, erasing most of their gains on third down. Case Cookus wasn’t worried. In fact, he took things into his own hands, rushing it to keep the drive alive.

Ricky Person continued to shine. He found a huge gap to rush deep into Houston territory. CJ Marable took it in for a touchdown on the next play to even the score. Birmingham couldn’t convert the extra points, but the game was now 6-6 with 2:18 left in the first.

Jalan McClendon and the Roughnecks came back on the field, looking to regain the lead. Justin Hall secured a first down on the first play, but they were on the hunt. ZaQuandre White came up clutch for the team, taking it 52-yards for his second score of the day.

Houston couldn’t secure the extra-points, but they now led 12-6 with the first quarter coming to a close.

Cookus came back on the field, but with 13-seconds to go he was picked off by Damon Arnette who took it all the way home for another Roughnecks TD.

Houston still struggled on the extra-points, but they now had a solid 18-6 lead over the Stallions to close out the first.

Second Quarter

Case came back into the game for Birmingham to start the second quarter. This time, he was hoping to have some better luck and possibly some points on the drive. Ricky Person Jr. was doing his part, moving the ball well and securing a fresh set of downs.

When Cookus couldn’t find a receiver, he ran it himself to move the ball near mid-field. Unfortunately, his took a huge sack on the next play moving him back.

The Stallions fought for another first down, but the Roughnecks defense was too much to overcome. After the punt, McClendon had a shot to extend the lead even further as we neared closer to the half.

It looked like Birmingham’s defense was going to stop the Roughnecks, but Cyril Grayson came up with a huge catch to keep the drive moving. It didn’t take long for McClendon to find his man. On the next play he connected with Emmanuel Butler for a huge gain to put them near the redzone.

Lingard was able to secure a fresh set of downs, moving them even closer to another score. It didn’t take long, McClendon connected with Keke Chism on the next play to put them up 24-6.

The Stallions drew a penalty on the conversion, giving Houston another shot at an extra-point. McClendon decided to get it himself, moving the score to 25-6 with 5:54 left in the half.

Case Cookus and co were back on the field, but they continued to struggle to get things moving offensively. When presented with a 4th and short situation, they opted to punt it away.

The Roughnecks got the ball back with 3:34 left in the half, giving them a shot to put them even further ahead.

Birmingham’s defense had other thoughts, coming up with a big sack to open the drive. They couldn’t fight back to get the yards needed and punted it back to the Stallions with 2:25 to go in the second.

Cookus and co had some time to work and potentially narrow their deficit. Jordan Thomas came up with a big play, pulling it in at the 24. It looked like Corn Elder had picked them off, but a flag gifted the ball back to Birmingham.

Still, the stallions couldn’t find the endzone after three attempts. With 37-seconds left on the clock, coach Holtz oted to go for it to hopefully get the first down. This worked in their favor, putting them at 1st & Goal at the 8 with time running out.

Houston’s defense drew a bad penalty with 13-seconds left that put the Stallions at the 1-yard line. Cookus handed it off, only to take a big loss of yards pushing them back to the 6. Cookus ultimately found his target in Jace Sternberger to secure another touchdown going into the half.

Coach Holtz opted to go for two, but Cookus couldn’t find a receiver. They now trailed the Roughnecks 26-12 at the half.

Third Quarter

After fighting back to close the half, the Stallions will start the third quarter receiving the ball. A score here could make it a one possession game with a lot of time left to go.

Case started out the half with a huge 45-yard pass, connecting with Marlon Williams to put them deep into enemy territory.

On the next play it looked like Davion Davis pulled it in to put them at first & goal. Dean Blandino stopped the next play from snapping and after review he called it an incomplete pass. At this point, Coach Holts opted for a field goal attempt. Harrison Mevis came out and knocked it in from 41-yards to make it 25-15 in the Roughnecks favor.

Cyril Grayson received the kickoff and had a solid return all the way to the 39 for Houston. McClendon now had his first shot of the second half, to potentially extend the Roughnecks lead even further. Although they had great starting field position, they couldn’t capitalize. They ultimately punted it away to Birmingham giving them a chance to keep chiseling away at the lead.

Ricky Person Jr knew the mission, gain yards, and that’s just what he continued to do. Next up, CJ Marable, he took them31-yards and near the redzone, keeping the momentum moving.

Cookus then found Deon Cain for another 21-yards to put them at first & goal from the 4. After three solid attempts, Houston’s defense came out on top.

Coach Holtz decided to bring out Mevis to add three with a short field goal.

On the first play of Houston’s drive they fumbled the ball, but Keke Chism saved the day recovering it and keeping the drive alive near mid-field.

Still, the Stallions defense was coming to play. They forced the Roughnecks into a fourth and short situation.

Coach Johnson decided to go for it, and McClendon delivered the fresh set of downs. Again, the Stallions defense was too much holding them just outside of field goal range.

Fourth Quarter

The Roughnecks punted it back to Birmingham, but they did a great job of pinning them against their own endzone to start the final quarter.

They were able to get out of the hole, but were put into a 4th & short situation. Down by 7, they decided to go for it and it paid off by just the tip of the ball to move the chains.

Case wasted no time moving the ball, connecting with Jace Sternberger on the next play to move them past mid-field.

Case’s luck was running out, on a free play he took a huge sack and was shown rolling around in pain on the field. J’Mar Smith came out for the Stallions after a mid-season signing. He returns to the team after leading them to a championship in season 1 on the USFL.

Smith couldn’t convert on third down and putting Mevis out for a 52-yard field goal. This brought the score to 25-21 with Houston in the lead.

McClendon came back on the field with a mission. He wasted no time moving the team to the 40, but they ultimately found themselves at 3rd & 12 from the 40 before they were shutdown.

The Stallions would get the ball back with 5:49 to go and a chance to take the lead.

J’Mar Smith came back out for the Stallions, with the game on the line, looking to clinch it. After a few attempts, he found Deon Cain wide open to get them near the 50.

Smith took things into his own hands, rushing it himself for a fresh set of down on the next play. Jace Continued to shine today, with a huge reception that brought them to first and goal near the 2-minute warning.

Houston’s defense had the opportunity to secure the win for the Roughnecks, but momentum was not on their side. J’Mar found Davion Davis to put them at the 1-yard line on 3rd down.

J’Mar took the ball into the endzone on the next play to give Birmingham their first lead of the game.

They opted for one, but could not convert. Houston now had a chance to win with a field goal,they just needed to get within striking distance.

Unfortunately, Lawrence Keys fumbled the ball on the kickoff with the Stallions recovering and effectively closing out the game.

They were at the 2-yard line, and Ricky Person took it in for another Stallions touchdown.

The Roughnecks had 1:40 left to get 8-points, but they couldn’t get it done. This is a tough loss for Houston who were leading for a majority of the matchup.

Birmingham came back from behind to stay at the top of the pack in the USFL division. Houston took a tough loss as they look to secure a spot in the playoffs. Next week, Houston takes on the Michigan Panthers and will be looking for the upset to keep their chances alive. The Stallions are fighting through injuries, but so far it’s only cost them two losses. They’ll look to polish things up as they head closer to another playoff push.

What are your thoughts on the Stallions comeback? Which UFL players impressed you the most? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!