Dynasty

Perhaps it’s appropriate that a team nicknamed the Stallions just won the Triple Crown.

Birmingham cemented its spring football dynasty on Sunday in St. Louis, blanking the San Antonio Brahmas, 25-0, to win the inaugural United Football League championship in front of 27,396 fans at The Dome of America.

The hoisting of their latest trophy follows up back-to-back United States Football League titles, meaning the Stallions’ three-peat marks the first in the U.S.-based play-for-pay gridiron game since the Green Bay Packers accomplished the feat from 1965-67.

The Stallions finish at 11-1 while the Brahmas close out at 8-4.

In what was billed as a battle between the best offense and defense in the league, Skip Holtz’s club had both.

The Magic City reps outgained Wade Phillips’ charges 308-208, limiting them to 53 rushing yards and, most importantly, keeping them off the scoreboard.

The conquest avenged an 18-9 loss to San Antonio during the regular season and puts Birmingham’s record at a gaudy 32-4 over the past three seasons.

“I thought our defense played a heckuva football game,” Holtz said. “They kept the ball in front of them, didn’t give up any big plays, tackled … just an unbelievable effort by our defensive side. And offensively, I felt like we were really opportunistic.

“We were three for three when we got in the red zone. We put the ball in the end zone and didn’t have to kick field goals all night, which was really special. But I thought these guys did a great job.”

The first half was … not good.

Neither team crossed midfield until there was 2:50 left in first half; it came on a 44-yard, tackle-busting run by Birmingham’s Ricky Person Jr. that took the ball down to the San Antonio 30.

A pass interference flag on the next snap moved the markers to the 16, and the Stallions finally scored when season and game MVP Adrian Martinez hit Gary Jennings on an 8-yard TD toss. The two-point conversion made it 8-0, and the way the contest was going, that looked like it might be enough.

But four minutes into the third quarter Birmingham got more, this time when Martinez called his own number and scooted into the end zone from 11 yards out.

One play later the Brahmas gave the ball back on a fumble, putting the Stallions in business at the enemy 24.

Martinez capped off the drive with a 1-yard QB sneak on fourth down midway through the third. Even though the conversion failed, this one was all but over at 22-zip.

“I think our defense played great,” Martinez said. “Despite going 11-1, it’s been an up and down year in some senses. And I think our team fought through adversity, found a way to get back in our groove. Coach told us last week that we kind of hit a sweet spot on offense midway through the year, and we needed to find a way to get back in gear for the playoffs.”

Trailing 25-0, San Antonio got a spark when Quinten Dormady replaced Chase Garbers at quarterback. He led his mates all the way to the Birmingham six, but they went backward from there thanks to a swarming “D.” That left the eventual winners to milk the clock and secure the shutout – the first and only of the UFL season.

“It is hard to continue to win,” Holtz said. “You put a target on your chest, and everybody’s shooting for you, and everybody’s circling that game, and you are going to get everybody’s best effort. But as I have told the team, the only thing that’s better than playing against the Stallions is having the opportunity to play for them.”

There was nothing otherworldly about the Stallions’ offensive stats, but they were more than adequate.

Martinez finished 13-23-0 for 98 yards and a touchdown through the air, while adding 54 ground yards and a score.

Person wound up with 102 yards on 13 carries while C.J. Marable contributed 45 yards toting the freight.

Marlon Williams led the receiving corps with 36 yards, with Jennings accounting for the only TD catch.

Linebacker Kyahva Tezino turned in a fantastic performance for the champs, forcing two fumbles to go with nine tackles – six of them solo. Damon Lloyd and Lorenzo Burns were in on six tackles each.

“I cannot take any moment for granted, because just before the USFL even started, I was on the couch … I mean, I was working for Amazon,” Tezino said. “My life changed in the snap of a finger. So, it’s truly a blessing to be here, to be on the Stallions, to get a championship. Just to be right here in this moment, right now, I’m just so grateful.”

Garbers finished 18-26-0 for 116 San Antonio yards, with Calvin Turner catching five balls for 49 yards.

Teez Tabor contributed six individual tackles and 10 takedowns in all.

“It was a great season, but it was a bad game,” Phillips said. “That’s what it came down to. I’m not taking anything away from Birmingham … they obviously are a really good football team. They played great today. You know, I thought we had a chance against them, because we beat them during the regular season, but we were at home then.

“They’ve been there a lot of times and showed their experience in a championship game. Once they got ahead it was pretty clear what the final would be because of the way they played.”

Scoring plays: Birmingham, Gary Jennings, 8-yard reception from Adrian Martinez, :40 second quarter, 2-point conversion catch by Amari Rodgers from Martinez, Stallions 8, Brahmas 0; Birmingham, Martinez, 11-yard run, 11:00 third quarter, 2-point conversion catch by Jordan Thomas from Martinez, Stallions 16, Brahmas 0; Birmingham, Martinez, 1-yard run, 7:25 third quarter, 2-point conversion failed, Stallions 22, Brahmas 0; Birmingham, Chris Blewitt, 49-yard field goal, 11:36 fourth quarter, Stallions 25, Brahmas 0.

Standout stat: 3. Number of championships Birmingham has won in three championship game appearances.

Next up: The 2025 season.

OTD in 1975: The Birmingham Vulcans of the World Football League signed former University of Alabama running back Johnny Musso. Musso had previously played professionally for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League.

OTD in 1979: The Alabama Vulcans of the American Football Association defeated the Arkansas Champs, 49-14, to improve to 5-0 on the season.

Kenny Burks rushed for 81 yards and scored three touchdowns, while Ernest Williams added two TDs and 77 yards carrying the ball.

Myron Smith had 99 rushing yards and a score.

A Birmingham Parks and Recreation official estimated attendance for the game at Legion Field was between 8-10,000.

OTD in 1984: The Birmingham Stallions of the original United States Football League defeated the Memphis Showboats, 35-20, in front of a sellout crowd of 50,079 fans at the Liberty Bowl.

Quarterback Cliff Stoudt threw for two touchdowns and ran for another while running back Joe Cribbs rushed for two TDs in a contest that saw the Stallions improve to 14-3.

OTD in 1995: The Birmingham Barracudas of the Canadian Football League played their first preseason game, losing to the Shreveport Pirates, 31-28, at Independence Stadium in Shreveport.

Former Auburn quarterback Reggie Slack, subbing for injured starter Matt Dunigan, was 10-18-0 for two touchdowns while Jimmy Klingler went 8-14-1 for 171 yards and a TD.

Birmingham was penalized 17 times for 143 yards.