The Birmingham Stallions found themselves unable to hold off the surging Jacksonville Bulls in a thrilling 43-27 defeat at the Gator Bowl. The Stallions struck first in the second quarter, capitalizing on Cliff Stoudt’s connection with Joe Cribbs to tie the game 7-7. Birmingham’s offense appeared steady, building a 27-14 lead midway through the third quarter with Stoudt’s 18-yard touchdown run and a solid ground attack by Cribbs. Dan Miller’s two field goals in the final minutes of the half had given Birmingham a narrow advantage, setting the stage for a nail-biting second half.
Jacksonville roared back, however, behind a spectacular outing from MVP Mark Keel and a relentless defensive effort. After a 9-yard touchdown run from Buck Belue closed the gap to 27-21, the Bulls took control early in the fourth quarter. Ed Luther’s quick 5-yard touchdown pass to Gary Clark pushed Jacksonville ahead, and shortly afterward, Adam Hinds picked off Stoudt and returned it 47 yards for another score, putting the Bulls up 35-27. The Stallions couldn’t respond, with Jacksonville’s ground game and aggressive defense stifling their attempts to close the gap.
With time winding down, the Bulls sealed their victory with Larry Mason’s 10-yard touchdown run, capping a dominant 22-point fourth quarter. Keel’s two touchdowns and Jacksonville’s four forced turnovers underscored their ability to capitalize on Birmingham’s mistakes. Despite solid performances from Stoudt and Cribbs, Birmingham’s late-game errors proved costly, moving Jacksonville to 8-4 and tightening the playoff race.
