In a tightly contested Week 7 showdown at Three Rivers Stadium, the Pittsburgh Maulers edged the Birmingham Stallions 21-19 in a game that came down to the final seconds. Pittsburgh struck first with a 10-yard touchdown pass from veteran quarterback Brian Sipe to wide receiver Mike Flowers, capping an eight-play, 60-yard drive early in the first quarter. Birmingham responded in the second quarter, as Cliff Stoudt found Jim Smith for a 14-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 before halftime.
The third quarter saw both teams trading scores, with Birmingham taking a brief lead on a Dan Miller field goal after an efficient 59-yard drive. However, Pittsburgh quickly answered as running back Kirk Pendleton punched in an 8-yard touchdown to reclaim a 14-10 advantage. As the clock ticked into the fourth quarter, Miller added another field goal to pull the Stallions within one point, setting up a dramatic finish.
In the closing moments, Brian Sipe orchestrated a clutch 66-yard drive, hitting Pendleton for an 8-yard touchdown with less than a minute remaining to give the Maulers a 21-13 lead. Birmingham made a valiant effort in the final seconds, driving 66 yards in just 44 seconds. Stoudt connected with Joe Cribbs for a 9-yard touchdown as time expired, but their two-point conversion attempt failed, sealing the 21-19 victory for Pittsburgh. Sipe, who threw for 199 yards and two touchdowns, was named MVP of the game.
