Birmingham Stallions Overcome Slow Start to Defeat Washington Federals, 29-17

The Birmingham Stallions remained unbeaten in the 1986 USFL season with a hard-fought 29-17 victory over the Washington Federals at Legion Field. After a sluggish first half that saw Washington take a 10-3 lead, the Stallions erupted for 26 second-half points behind a dominant rushing attack and timely passing from quarterback Cliff Stoudt. Running back Joe Cribbs, named MVP of the game, gashed the Federals’ defense for 210 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, averaging an eye-popping 10.0 yards per rush. His explosive runs, including four gains of 20+ yards, kept Birmingham’s offense moving and wore down Washington’s defense in the second half.

Washington controlled the early momentum, with quarterback Mike Hohensee leading two scoring drives in the second quarter. A 28-yard field goal by Jeff Brockhaus opened the scoring, followed by a 4-yard touchdown run by Steve Sewell to give the Federals a 10-0 lead late in the half. However, Birmingham answered with a Dan Miller field goal as time expired, cutting the deficit to 10-3. The Stallions then took over after halftime, with Miller adding another field goal before Stoudt connected with Joel Coles and Joey Jones for touchdown passes. Cribbs’ 7-yard rushing score late in the fourth quarter sealed the win, though Washington’s Greg Taylor provided a brief spark with an 89-yard kick return touchdown.

The Stallions’ defense also stepped up, sacking Hohensee once and forcing two turnovers, including a critical interception by Tommy Haynes. Birmingham’s offense outgained Washington 518-233, with Stoudt throwing for 257 yards and two touchdowns. The Federals, meanwhile, struggled to sustain drives outside of their early success, with injuries to key players like Sean Sullivan and Jackson further hampering their efforts. With the win, Birmingham moves to 3-0, while Washington falls to 1-2 in a game that showcased the Stallions’ resilience and explosive playmaking ability.