In a pivotal Week 10 matchup, the Birmingham Stallions stormed into RFK Memorial Stadium and upset the Washington Federals 28-16, fueled by a dominant performance from Joe Cribbs. Washington opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run by Curtis Bledsoe, capping off a 91-yard drive, but Birmingham responded early in the second quarter when Cribbs broke free for a 7-yard touchdown run. A safety by Washington’s Alapati Apuna gave the Federals a brief lead, but Birmingham reclaimed control when Earl Gant scored on a 4-yard run after a Washington turnover, making it 14-9 at halftime.
The Stallions extended their lead in the third quarter with a 23-yard field goal by Dan Miller. Washington’s offense struggled to maintain momentum, plagued by turnovers and miscues throughout the game. Cribbs delivered the knockout blow early in the fourth quarter with a 17-yard touchdown run, followed by a two-point conversion. Another Miller field goal pushed Birmingham’s lead to 28-9, effectively sealing the game. Cribbs finished with 103 yards rushing, two touchdowns, and was named the game’s MVP.
Washington attempted a late comeback, highlighted by a quick 78-yard drive that ended with quarterback Joe Honensee finding Greg Taylor for an 8-yard touchdown. However, it was too little, too late as the Stallions’ defense, led by Robert Gent and Bill Roe, who each recorded six tackles, held firm. With this victory, Birmingham improved to 6-4, pulling even with Washington in the standings and positioning themselves for a strong finish to the regular season.
