Former Birmingham backup breaks Stallions’ playoff momentum

The Birmingham Stallions' quest for a postseason berth hit a major speed bump on Saturday. Just days after a gritty 14-3 victory over the Columbus Aviators, the Stallions saw their three-game winning streak evaporate in a 36-29 loss at Historic Crew Stadium.

A Tale of Two Rematches

The quick turnaround from Sunday to Saturday offered a stark contrast in execution. While the two teams combined for a defensive struggle of 332 total yards and only one offensive touchdown on Sunday, the rematch exploded with 629 yards and six offensive scores. For the Stallions, the shift in momentum proved costly, as a 15-point barrage by the Aviators in the final minutes of the fourth quarter left Birmingham's playoff hopes in a precarious position.

The Jalen Morton Factor

Columbus opted for a change at the helm, benching Jalan McClendon for backup Jalen Morton. The move paid dividends. Morton, who had seen limited action throughout the season, torched the defense by throwing for 213 yards and three touchdowns on 14-of-30 passing, while adding a game-changing 96 rushing yards and a score on the ground.

"We wanted to contain them a little bit more," Stallions coach AJ McCarron remarked after the game. "I feel like we got out of our rush lanes a little bit. But we just gave up too many big plays with him running."

The Final Stretch

Trailing 29-21, Columbus engineered a 91-yard scoring drive to level the game, bolstered by a 42-yard defensive pass interference call against Steven Gilmore. Morton scrambled for a 10-yard touchdown and successfully connected with Keke Chism on a leaping 2-point conversion to tie it. Disaster struck for Birmingham on the very next drive when Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s pass was intercepted by D.J. Miller Jr. and returned 39 yards for a game-winning touchdown with 1:15 remaining.

Despite an early lead bolstered by an Alex Cook 73-yard fumble return touchdown and field goals from Anders Carlson, the Stallions couldn't punch the ball into the end zone late. McCarron lamented the missed opportunities, specifically the failure to convert near the goal line, noting, "I think the thing that haunts us more than anything was not scoring from the 1. You know, me personally, I thought I should have ran it."

Playoff Implications

Now holding a 4-5 record, the Stallions sit in a tense spot as they head into their regular-season finale against the Houston Gamblers. That matchup is set for 2 p.m. CDT Saturday at Protective Stadium and will be televised on ESPN2.

Birmingham currently holds the tiebreaker over the Louisville Kings due to their 15-13 victory over Louisville back in March. However, with Louisville set to face Dallas and Columbus, the path to the postseason remains unpredictable. As McCarron put it, "We need Columbus to get another upset. You never know what can happen."