The Birmingham Stallions secured a 24-14 victory over the Memphis Showboats in a tightly contested matchup at Legion Field, wrapping up the regular season with a statement win. Quarterback Cliff Stoudt led the charge for Birmingham, earning MVP honors by accounting for three total touchdowns—two on the ground and one through the air—while adding 186 passing yards. The Stallions’ balanced offensive attack, bolstered by Joe Cribbs’ 161-yard rushing performance, allowed them to dominate possession and keep the Memphis defense on its heels.
Birmingham opened strong, building a 14-0 lead in the first quarter with Stoudt connecting on a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jim Smith before scoring on a 12-yard scramble. Memphis countered late in the quarter with Tim Spencer’s 11-yard rushing touchdown, narrowing the gap to 14-7. The second quarter was marked by missed opportunities, as both teams failed to capitalize on promising drives, leaving the halftime score unchanged.
Memphis made a late push in the fourth quarter, highlighted by quarterback Walter Lewis’ electrifying 17-yard touchdown run to bring the Showboats within a touchdown. However, Birmingham responded with a clock-draining nine-play drive that culminated in Dan Miller’s 20-yard field goal to seal the game. Memphis’ final drive fell short, ending with a turnover on downs deep in Stallions territory. With the win, Birmingham enters the playoffs on a high note, while Memphis will look to regroup after a hard-fought battle.
