Birmingham Stallions Stampede Over Struggling San Antonio Brahmas

The final UFL matchup of the weekend features a rematch of last years championship game. The San Antonio Brahmas (1-4) are hitting the road to take on the Birmingham Stallions (3-2), and both teams are looking to rebound after tough losses.

The Brahmas lone win this season is against the DC Defenders, who had the best record in the league. The Stallions have faced their toughest competition this season, and although they sit atop the UFL division, things aren’t as cemented as they were in the past. Six week in, and this is an important game on both sides.

In last years UFL championship, the Stallions shutout the Brahmas 25-0. At minimum, pride is on the line for the Brahmas even if they playoff chances are dwindling. For Birmingham, a win keeps them in the top spot in the USFL. They’re facing tough competition from Michigan for the division, and ever game matter as we creep closer to the end of the season.

First Quarter

The San Antonio Brahmas started out the game with the ball. Coach Pardee opted to start the game with Kevin Hogan today, giving him his first start of the season. Right off the bat it paid dividends. Hogan connected with Justice Smith for a huge gain to put them 30-yards of the endzone on his first play.

Once Hogan and the Brahmas got into the redzone, the Stallions defense was able to hold them off and force a field goal attempt.

Tristin Vizcaino came out, but unfortunately for San Antonio went wide on the 41-yard attempt keeping the game scoreless.

Coach Holtz mentioned that we’d see Andrew Peasley on the field tonight, but Case Cookus was getting the starting role to kickoff their first drive. San Antonio’s defense came up big, forcing a quick three and out.

It was early in the game, but it seems like it was going to lean defensive. Birmingham forced a quick three and out of their own, which resulted in a huge return by Davion Davis. Cookus came out for his next drive, only 39-yards out from the endzone.

Ricky Person Jr ultimately had a solid rush that brought the team inside the 10, looking to get the first points of the game. He was determined, after two more attempts, Person Jr. was able to find the endzone and break the ice for the Stallions.

Coach Holtz opted to go for two, but a costly penalty pushed them back. Cookus was close to finding his receiver, but they couldn’t bring it in. Regardless, they now held a 6-0 lead over the Brahmas near the end of the first.

Kevin Hogan started the game hot, but since then the Stallions defence has had his card. They shut him and the Brahmas offense down, giving them the ball with 7-seconds to go in the first quarter.

Second Quarter

Coach Holtz decided this was a good time to bring out Andrew Peasley for the first time this season. Right off the bat, he was slinging the ball. After two plays he was able to get the ball to Deon Cain and move them to the 40. Peasley’s luck ended there, he took a big sacked and fumbled the ball away to the Brahmas.

San Antonio’s defense was holding up their end of the bargain, but once again the Brahmas offense stuttered on the field. The Birmingham Stallions had another opportunity to extend their lead. Brad Wing punted it away with near perfection, pinning the Stallions near the goal line to start their next drive.

Cookus could not find a way to navigate the team out of their position, resulting in the team punting back to San Antonio.

Kevin Hogan was back on the field, and although they haven’t had much success yet the game was still very much in reach. Birmingham’s defense continued to shine, Tre Norwood came in clutch to force a 4th down for the Brahmas.

Case Cookus and co found themselves pinned against the endzone again on their next drive, which as you would expect ended in the same result. The Brahmas started their next drive with excellent field position and 3:32 left in the half to try and get on the board.

Kevin Hogan aired out to a wide open Jontre Kirklin on the first play of this drive. Although it was a near perfect pass, Kirklin could not gain control off the ball nor the points that would have came along with it.

At the 2-minute warning San Antonio was forced to once again punt it back to Birmingham. Cookus came in to close out the half, and he came in to do it his way. He was able to move the chains on a few occasions on his own, running it through traffic to get the yards he needed.

On third and short, CJ Marable ran it in to keep their drive alive with just over a minute left.

Cookus found an open Amari Rogers, who took it 43-yards for another Stallions touchdown. Birmingham now held a 12-0 lead over San Antonio with 21-seconds left in the half.

The Brahmas were not going to end the half without a fight. Hogan had two quick long balls, which found them within 8-yards of the endzone.

With 3-seconds to go they lined up for a field goal to close it out. Viz 26-yards to grab three to close out the half.

San Antonio went into the locker room with a little momentum on their side. What we saw was that at any time Kevin Hogan can get it from one end of the field to the other with ease. Birmingham had the lead, but Coach Holtz would be looking to make some adjustments to keep them ahead as they look to close it out.

Third Quarter

The Stallions would start the third with the ball, giving them a shot the extend their lead against San Antonio. Amari Rogers fumbled the ball on the first play, luckily for Birmingham it was recovered and their drive continued. They couldn’t keep up the forward progress, punting it away from mid-field.

Kevin Hogan came onto the field for the first time this half, starting at the 4-yard line. If they were hoping that the momentum from the first half was going to carry over, they were out of luck. Birmingham’s defense held their own and forces another three and out.

In even worse news for the Brahmas, it was announced that Anthony McFarland was out for the game with a shoulder injury.

The Stallions next drive led to a solid 49-yard field goal from Harrison Mevis to put them up 15-3 with 7:36 to go in the third.

It was hard to say if San Antonio couldn’t find their rhythm on offense or if the Stallions defense was that good. Birmingham received the punt which gave them great field position near the 50.

Andrew Peasley was back in for the Stallions on this next drive. Peasley didn’t fumble it this time around, but he wasn’t able to move the chains either. Harrison Mevis came back out and knocked it in from 50-yards.

With 3:22 left in the third, Birmingham now led 18-3.

Kyahva Tezino shined for the Stallions defense during the next drive. He was able to force the Brahmas 4th down, putting Peasley back on the field.

He threw it deep to Cade Johnson to start things out and put them past mid-field. This also brought the third quarter to a close.

Fourth Quarter

Peasley started out the final quarter connecting with Cade Johnson to put them in a 4th and short position. San Antonio’s defense moved offsides, giving Birmingham a fresh set of downs at the 25.

Peasley keep the driving moving on the next play, running it for a first down himself. Marable then brought them to 9-yards out. Peasley could not connect with Davion Davis to get the score, bringing Mevis back on the field. The Brahmas has a costly penalty though, moving offsides giving Birmingham a first and goal from the 5.

Andrew Peasley took a big hit on the next play, which looked to result in a knee injury.

Cookus came back in the game and connected with Jace Sternberger for another Stallions score.

Holtz opted for two and Jordan Thomas delivered. They now held a commanding 26-3 lead with under 10-minutes left in the game.

Steven Gilmore came in clutch for Birmingham during the next drive, picking off Kevin Hogan and returning back to mid-field. If this game wasn’t over for San Antonio already, it was getting close to it.

Deon Cain came in with a huge reception, moving them all the way down to the 36. When presented with 4th and 11, coach Holtz decided to test his luck. Cookus connect with Rogers, but it was not enough to convert.

The Brahmas chances of winning this were los, but they were looking to soften the blow. Kevin Hogan found himself at 4th and 1. It looked like they would move the chains, but it was fumbled by Aiden Robbins with the Stallions recovering.

Cookus connected with Marlon Williams to give them a fresh set of downs to bring them to the 2-minute warning. Skip said he would shave his beard if the team hit over 30 points. Otherwise, the team may have let the clock run out at this point. Ultimately, after 3 attempts, that’s just what they did and took the win. We’ll have to wait and see if Holtz says it was close enough and shaves it ahead of week 7.

The Birmingham Stallions got the rebound game they were looking for and move back into the top spot in the USFL division. The Brahmas have now been outscored 46-3 in their last two outings against Birmingham. Every game matters as we inch closer to the playoffs and the Stallions are making the Panthers fight for it. San Antonio finds themselves on the losing side of another battle and will have to go back to the drawing board as their playoff hopes come closer to an end.

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