Adrian Martinez threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jace Sternberger with about one minute left in regulation as the host Birmingham Stallions edged the Michigan Panthers 20-19 on Saturday.
Marcus Baugh caught a one-point pass conversion with 59 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter for the one-point advantage for the Stallions (9-1), who rebounded from their first loss a week earlier at San Antonio.
Michigan’s Jake Bates missed a 53-yard field-goal attempt on the final play. He had made earlier kicks of 39 and 44 yards as the Panthers (7-3) led 19-13 early in the fourth quarter.
The teams will have a rematch for the USFL Conference title on June 8 in Birmingham, Ala.
Martinez finished 14-for-28 passing for 163 yards and the one score. C.J. Marable rushed for TD runs of 1 and 20 yards.
Danny Etling was 16 of 31 for 195 yards, including a 46-yard scoring toss to Siaosi Mariner, and also rushed 23 yards for a touchdown. The Panthers outgained the Stallions 324-223 in total offense.
Battlehawks 13, Brahmas 12
Host St. Louis took a 13-6 lead on Andre Szymt’s 38-yard field goal with 3:19 left in the fourth quarter, then held on through a furious San Antonio rally.
The Brahmas scored on Quinten Dormady’s 37-yard touchdown pass to Jontre Kirklin with 1:56 remaining in regulation, but an ineligible downfield pass penalty negated Dormady’s two-point conversion pass to Kirklin for the lead. San Antonio’s second attempt fell incomplete.
St. Louis quarterback AJ McCarron was 10-of-24 passing for 115 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown pass to Steven Mitchell Jr. in the second quarter.
Dormady was 15 of 27 for 188 yards, including the TD toss to Kirklin (seven receptions, 127 yards). Morgan Ellison added a 6-yard TD run in the third for the Brahmas.
St. Louis (7-3) will host San Antonio (7-3) for the XFL Conference championship on June 9.
–Field Level Media
