By John Goolsby, Prep Sports Editor
The Birmingham Stallions improved to 4-0 with a 20-18 win over the D.C Defenders.
Ramiz Ahmed, signed four days earlier due to a Chris Blewitt injury, kicked the game-winning 46-yarder with four seconds remaining.
D.C.’s opening drive ended in a fumble that JoJo Tillery recovered for Birmingham at their 43-yard-line.
The Stallions, with Matt Corral as the starting quarterback this week, moved the ball to the Defenders’ 5-yard line but turned the ball over on a Corral fumble.
The Defenders went on a nine-play, 86-yard drive that resulted in Chris Rowland’s 9-yard touchdown reception from Jordan Ta’amu.
The 2-point conversion failed, and D.C. held a 6-0 lead with 3:35 remaining in the opening period.
Birmingham moved the ball to the Defenders’ seven-yard line but again turned it over with 12:56 remaining in the second quarter.
Birmingham’s defense forced D.C. to punt on their next possession.
Birmingham’s offense stalled, and was forced to punt. Colby Wadman’s punt was blocked, and the Defenders took over at Birmingham’s 36-yard line.
Birmingham’s defense shut down D.C.’s 4th down conversion on the Stallions’ 30-yard line.
Four plays later, Corral hit Amari Rogers for a 50-yard touchdown to tie the game at 6-6.
The one-point conversion attempt failed.
Birmingham’s defense again forced a three-and-out.
However, a lighting delay sent the two teams to their locker rooms.
When the game resumed, the Defenders were forced to punt. The snap sailed over Paxton Brooks’s head, and the Stallions scored a safety after Jace Sternberger made the tackle in the endzone.
The Stallions led 8-6 with 1:56 remaining in the half.
Birmingham took the kickoff and moved to the Defenders’ 28-yard line.
Ahmed kicked a 46-yard field goal with two seconds remaining in the half to give the Stallions an 11-6 lead.
Birmingham took the second-half opening kickoff and marched to the Defenders’ 14-yard line before stalling.
Ahmed hit a 32-yard field goal at 9:41 in the third quarter to give the Stallions a 14-6 lead.
The rest of the third quarter was defensive, and both teams were forced to punt on each of their next two possessions.
With 61 seconds remaining in the third period, Ta’amu hit Harmon with a short pass, which resulted in a 45-yard touchdown for D.C.
The two-point attempt failed, and the Stallions held a 14-12 lead with 53 seconds remaining in the third period.
Birmingham’s offense failed to pick up a first down on the ensuing drive after Corral was sacked, and the Stallions were called for holding.
An 18-yard punt set the Defenders up on the Birmingham 40-yard line with 13:49 remaining in the game.
The Defenders took over six minutes off the clock as they moved 35 yards in ten plays.
D.C. took the lead on a 23-yard Matt McCrane field goal with 7:44 remaining.
Aided by a 20-yard Corral scramble and a 27-yard Corral to Sternberger completion, Birmingham marched to the Defenders’ nine-yard line.
Ahmed was called on to kick his third field goal of the night, and he answered.
Birmingham retook the lead 17-15 after Ahmed’s 27-yarder with 3:29 remaining.
A 31-yard kickoff return set the Defenders up on the Birmingham 44-yard line.
Two plays later, D.C. found themselves in a 3 and 15 situation with 2:10 remaining.
The Defenders picked up the first down on a 19-yard pass from Ta’amu to Harmon at the Birmingham 30-yard line.
The Defenders moved the ball to the Stallions’ 22-yard line.
On fourth and two, McCrane connected on a 39-yard field goal to give the Defenders an 18-17 lead with 1:08 remaining.
A 22-yard Deon Cain kickoff return set the Stallions up on their own 40 with 1:04 left in the game.
A ten-yard Corral completion to Cain put the ball at midfield.
Corrall then hit Rodgers for 15 yards to the D.C. 35-yard line.
Kevin Austin took a Corral pass and made it to the Defenders’ 28-yard line with 22 seconds remaining.
Corral threw two incompletions after a Birmingham timeout and found themselves in a fourth-and-four situation at the nine-second mark.
Ahmed connected on a 46-yarder to give Birmingham the win.
The Stallions outgained D.C. 356 yards to 251 yards.
Corral was 19 of 29 for 240 yards and one touchdown.
Ricky Person, Jr. les the Stallions with 57 yards on 11 carries.
Rodgers led Birmingham with four receptions for 80 yards and one score.
Ahmed went four of four with field goals of 46, 32, 27, and 46 yards.
Birmingham (4-0) travels to play Houston at 6 p.m. next week.
