san antonio brahmas stifle stallions, end 15-game win streak

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MAY 25, 2024 - BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

By Steve Irvine

The Birmingham Stallions’ 15-game winning streak ended on Saturday afternoon in San Antonio. The ultimate goal – a UFL championship in the league’s inaugural season – is still very much alive.

First things first. The Stallions never led during an 18-9 loss on Saturday to the San Antonio Brahmas. It was the Stallions first loss since losing to the Houston Gamblers on May 13, 2023 in a USFL game.

It was a loss that came because of deficiencies in nearly every facet of the game.

“It was one of those games where we just couldn’t get (going),” said Stallions head coach Skip Holtz, who is now 29-4 as the Stallions head coach. “It seemed like we were out of sync offensively. I feel like we abandoned the running game a little bit too early. I probably should have stayed in the running game a little bit more. Defensively, we’ve been going through some adjustments and we’ll get them straight.”

Even with a day full of frustrations and key blunders, both physically and mentally, the Stallions (8-1) had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds. However, quarterback Adrian Martinez sailed the ball over the head of tight end Jace Sternberger and into the hands of San Antonio’s Teez Tabor at the Brahmas goal line with 33 seconds left.

Ultimately, that was just part of a disappointing afternoon.

“I certainly don’t feel like we put our best foot forward today,” Holtz said. “We had three drops in the first quarter. It was hard to get anything going. And then, when you play a talented team like that, especially with their defensive line, they kept Adrian running around there a little bit. He had some opportunities to sit in there and make some throws. But he had a lot of (times) where he would hit his back foot and he’d have to take off running. I think, if  nothing, we’ve got to get better. The effort that we put out today was certainly not good enough to win. We came in here, we knew it was going to be tough. We knew they’re a good football team but, at this point, they’re all tough.”

Martinez was 18 of 32 for 211 yards with one touchdown and the interception passing and added 56 yards on five rushing attempts. He certainly had no time to get comfortable against the top defense in the league.

Perhaps the lone bright side came from tight end Jace Sternberger, who had seven catches for 110 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown catch on the opening drive of the second half.

“I tell you what, I can’t compliment him enough, the way that son of a gun stood up and competed,” Holtz said. “We talked about it was going to be a day of contested catches. It was going to be a day where there was going to be a lot of pulling and tugging and you were going to have to make some plays in open space. That’s what it is against good defensive football teams. I thought Jace answered that bell today.”

On the other side, the Brahmas (7-2) rushed for 127 yards, converted some key third downs and took advantage of some crucial mental blunders. This comes a week after the defense allowed 28 points last week in a win over Houston.

“I think this was a great wakeup call for us,” Holtz said. “This is what we need to wake up and get better at some things and eliminate some of the foolish penalties and some of the things that shoot ourselves in the foot.”

Now it’s time to move forward to the regular season finale against Michigan at Protective Stadium. With both teams already having clinched playoff berths, Holtz was asked if he is considering sitting Martinez and getting some playing time for Matt Corral.

“We haven’t talked about the sit game, at this point,” Hotlz said. “I think Adrian has done a nice job. Everybody knows how strongly I feel about Matt Corral and how talented he is. We’ll look at it. I’d love to play Matt, especially as you get into the game this weekend. It may be something we certainly would consider. But, at this point, I haven’t even thought about it.”

What he has thought about, though, is getting into postseason football.

“I am ready to get into playoff football,” Holtz said. “This game will mean a lot coming up this week with Michigan. Really the ultimate thing, everybody that’s playing right now – Michigan, Birmingham, San Antonio and St. Louis – we all just want to win two games and they’re the last two of the season. I think what happens here is important because I think you learn a lot about yourself and you want to take momentum into the playoffs. But, I think, ultimately, it’s what’s going to happen Week 11, because that’s the game that matters for everybody at this point.”