By John Goolsby, Prep Sports Editor
ARLINGTON – The Birmingham Stallions picked up where they left off last year.
The two-time defending USFL champion Stallions opened the new United Football League season with a win over the Arlington Renegades, the defending XFL champions.
The United Football League is a product of the merger between the USFL and the XFL.
The Renegades received the ball to start the game and returned the ball 48 yards to the Stallions’ 48-yard line. Birmingham was penalized 15 yards on the play, and the Renegades started their possession from the Stallions’ 33-yard line.
The Renegades moved to the Birmingham 15-yard line before Carlos Davis hit quarterback Luis Perez and knocked the ball loose.
Defensive back Mark Gilbert scooped the ball up and was tackled at the 24-yard line.
Former Ole Miss Rebel Matt Corral started at quarterback for the Stallions. Corral moved the Stallions to the Renegade 40-yard line in five plays but turned the ball over on an interception with 9:10 remaining in the first quarter.
The Renegades went on a ten-play 40-yard drive that was capped off by a 38-yard field goal with 3:12 remaining to take a 3-0 lead.
On the ensuing kick-off, Deon Cain returned the kickoff 32 yards to the Stallions 49-yard line. Birmingham moved the ball to the Arlington four-yard line in four plays before the drive stalled. Chris Blewitt hit a 27-yard field goal to tie the game at three-all with 12:33 remaining in the second quarter.
The Renegades struck quickly. Perez hit Isaiah Winstead with a 51-yard strike to put Arlington up 9-6 with 9:01 remaining in the half. Winstead converted the two-point conversion with a reception from Lindsey Scott.
The Stallions took over with Adrian Martinez at quarterback. Martinez, a Kansas State star, moved the ball to the Renegade 20-yard line. The drive ended after Martinez threw an interception with 3:15 remaining in the half.
The Stallion’s defense stiffened and forced an Arlington punt with 1:31 left in the second quarter.
Martinez was injured on a 20-yard run to midfield with 40 seconds remaining in the half. Corral returned to replace Martinez and hit Cain with a 39-yard touchdown pass to the back right of the endzone with nine seconds on the clock.
Birmingham tied the score at 11-all after Corrall hit Ricky Person, Jr. for the two-point conversion.
The two teams traded punts on their opening possessions of the second half.
With seven minutes left in the third quarter, Birmingham took over at their 40-yard line. CJ Marable moved the Stallions 41 yards on a 13-yard run and 28-yard reception.
Birmingham took the lead on an Person, Jr. two-yard touchdown run with 5:10 remaining in the third. The Stallions went up 19-11 on a two-point conversion by Corral to Gary Jennings.
The Renegades put together an eigh-play 24-yard drive that resulted in a 45-yard field goal with two seconds left in the third period.
As the final period opened, the Stallions put together a seven-play 45-yard drive that resulted in a CJ Marable seven-yard touchdown run with 11:25 remaining in the game.
The Stallions converted the two-point conversion with an Amari Rodgers reception from Corral. The catch was initially ruled incomplete but after a review Rodgers was given credit for the reception and the Stallions held a 27-14 lead.
The Renegade’s next possession ended after Gilbert intercepted Martinez’s pass at the Stallions’ five-yard line with 8:48 remaining.
The Stallions put the game away with a massive 15-play drive that took over eight minutes off the clock. The Stallions had a chance to extend their lead, but Blewitt’s 53-yard field hit the right upright with 27 seconds remaining in the game.
The Renegades could not score, and the Stallions emerged with a 27-14 victory.
Birmingham put up 409 yards of offense, and the defense held the Renegades to 262 yards.
Corral was 12 of 21 passing for 201 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 25 yards.
Martinez was 2 of 6 for 26 yards and a pick.
Marable led the Stallions with 67 yards on 18 carries and a score.
Martinez added 52 yards on the ground and Person, Jr. had one rushing touchdown and 31 rushing yards.
Cain led Birmingham with 66 yards on three receptions and one touchdown.
Linebacker Kyahva Tezino led the Stallions with eleven tackles.
Gilbert had an outstanding game with five tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery and one pass deflection.
The Stallions are on the road at their old USFL nemesis, the Michigan Panthers, next Sunday at 11 AM. The game can be seen on ESPN.