Stallions fourth quarter collapse muddies postseason picture
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - May 24, 2026
By Steve Irvine
As of now, the control that the Birmingham Stallions had over their UFL playoff control disappeared following a mistake-filled 36-29 loss to the Columbus Aviators on Saturday afternoon at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus.
Wins in the final two games not only would have pushed the Stallions win streak to five games but it would have pretty much ensured them a spot in the four-team playoffs. Now they need some help, perhaps from a Columbus team that managed only a single field goal in last week’s 11-point loss to Stallions (4-5) at Protective Stadium. The Aviators close the season against the Louisville Kings, which could be the Stallions biggest contender for the final playoff spot.
“One, we get paid to do a job, you gotta go out and do your job,” said Stallions head coach AJ McCarron. “But two, I mean, you never know what happens. It's tough to be left in the hands of Columbus getting another upset (against Louisville) and then we're in.”
It might not be that simple with the Dallas Renegades, who play at Louisville on Sunday, and the Houston Gamblers a game behind the Stallions and Kings heading into this weekend. But it certainly would have been more clearcut if the Stallions found a way to win in a game that they didn’t trail for the first time until DJ Miller’s 39-yard interception return with 1:15 left in the game.
Perhaps the tone was set on the opening play from scrimmage when Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw into coverage and was intercepted by O’Donnell Fortune. But a few plays later, Jalen Morton lost control of the football while trying to throw and Stallions safety Alex Cook scooped up the ball and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown. The wild sequence continued on the extra point when Anders Carlson’s attempt was blocked and Columbus returned it for a one-point conversion.
The Stallions scored on its next series when Thompson-Robinson and Deon Cain connected for a 13-1 lead. Morton, a former Stallion quarterback, got the offensive moving and threw a pair of second quarter touchdown passes. But the Stallions sandwiched a 1-yard touchdown run by Tyrion Davis-Price in between and had a 20-14 lead when taking possession with 1:51 left in the half. Thompson-Robinson passes of 26 yards to Jaydon Mickens and 18 yards to Davis-Price got the drive moving and the Stallions eventually reached the 1-yard line with just over 30 seconds left in the half.
Thompson-Robinson spiked the ball to stop the clock after his 16-yard to the 1-yard line and the Stallions had a pair of incompletions before settling for a 19-yard field goal by Carlson. Losing the chance at four more points ended up being costly.
“I think the thing that caught us more than anything was not scoring from the one,” McCarron said. “You know, me personally, I felt like we should have ran it. (Offensive coordinator Tyler Siskey) felt like we were tight a little bit on the clock and getting personnel in. Well, listen, I mean, there's plays for us to make as well. It's just one of those games that doesn't go your way.”
The Stallions got a couple of second half field goals by Carlson to take a 29-21 lead and they carried that until late in the game. Morton pulled even with 1:37 left when Morton scrambled 10 yards for a score and then found Keke Chism for a two-point conversion in the back of the end zone. Thompson-Robinson threw an interception on the next play from scrimmage and Miller scored the go-ahead touchdown.
Birmingham had one final shot, moving the ball inside the Aviators 25-yard line. But a 4th-and-11 pass to Jordan Thomas into double coverage in the back corner of the end zone sailed and Columbus came away with the win.
For Thompson-Robinson, it was his second consecutive game where he didn’t find a rhythm. He was 16-for-35 for 157 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He needs to turn it around next week in the regular season finale against the visiting Houston Gamblers.