Things are going from bad to worse for the Stallions. With a record of 1–2 heading into their home opener against an undefeated Orlando Storm, the Stallions were already behind the eight-ball at kickoff.
Week 4 Recap
The scoring opened midway through the opening quarter, with Orlando capping off a 66-yard drive with a Jack Plummer pass to Cam Camper. Camper would lead the Storm with 44 receiving yards and the lone touchdown. Plummer went 17-of-27 for 182 yards and also added 41 yards on the ground.
On the next Storm drive, the offense chewed up over seven minutes and 72 yards, giving Michael Lantz an opportunity for a 19-yard field goal.
Birmingham couldn’t get anything going and ended up punting three times to start the game. The closest they got to scoring came when Anders Carlson shanked a 46-yard field goal attempt.
On the next drive, the Storm marched quickly, moving 41 yards in just 28 seconds to set up another field goal attempt for Lantz. Once again, he was good, this time from 46 yards out.
Now down 13–0 at halftime, the Stallions had nothing going for them. After back-to-back punts to start the third quarter, Birmingham made a change at quarterback. Up to that point, Corral had gone 13-of-20, but for only 83 yards. He didn’t turn the ball over, but the offense couldn’t get anything going, and a spark was needed.
However, Michael Hiers wasn’t much better, going 7-of-15 for just 60 yards. Even the run game was nonexistent, with Anthony McFarland Jr. leading the Stallions with 30 rushing yards.
Orlando added three more points early in the fourth quarter to push the lead to 16. Lantz made it look easy with a 45-yard field goal.
The final score stood at 16–0 for Orlando. The win improves the Storm to 4–0, while the Stallions fall to 1–3.
Stud of the Game
It might be boring, but I love it when a kicker outscores not only the rest of his team, but the opposing team as well. Michael Lantz was perfect, going 3-for-3, with his longest from 46 yards out. Including the extra point, he scored 10 of the Storm’s 16 points.
Donkey of the Game
When your team gets shut out in a pro football game, everyone on that team is a donkey. A stinky, mangy donkey with ticks… ew. Do better, Stallions. Do better.
Taylor Elgersma Heads North
The first domino to fall in the quarterback shakeup in Birmingham was the exit of Taylor Elgersma. The Canadian-born prospect signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who drafted him 18th overall in the 2025 CFL Draft.
The Wilfrid Laurier product has stirred quite the buzz north of the border with his movie-like rise. Elgersma hasn’t exactly taken the cookie-cutter route to get here. Guy went from U SPORTS ball, to turning heads at the Senior Bowl as the first Canadian university QB to get that call, to getting looks around NFL circles. It’s been a slow burn climb the whole way, just steady progress. On top of that, he was part of the CFL QB Internship from 2022–2024, spending time with the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats, soaking in how pro systems actually run.
Elgersma joins a growing list of Canadian-born quarterbacks in the CFL. He joins Tre Ford, who recently signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and “Captain Canada” himself, Nathan Rourke of the B.C. Lions. Rourke’s younger brother, Kurtis, is currently in the San Francisco 49ers organization, but his Canadian football rights belong to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
With this growing list of young Canadian talent, half the league could have a National starter under centre within the next few years.
Personally, as a Blue Bombers fan and former season ticket holder, this move excites me. With an aging Zach Collaros at the helm in Winnipeg, the heir apparent needed to be found, and Elgersma is it.
I think the work visa situation really blew up in the Stallions’ face, because they could have had something here.
Trade Alert
Not only is Elgersma out of Birmingham, but so are Matt Corral and defensive end Amani Bledsoe. The Stallions needed a shakeup under center, and now Dorian Thompson-Robinson has joined the group.
Thompson-Robinson has yet to really make an impact at the UFL level, completing just two passes for 16 yards. The allure comes from his five seasons at UCLA, where he racked up 10,695 passing yards and 88 touchdowns through the air. He also added another 1,800 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground.
This could be the spark the Stallions need to turn their season around.
Week 5 Preview
It’s another tough matchup for the Stallions as they welcome the 3–1 D.C. Defenders in Week 5. The Defenders lead the league in points scored with 127, with the next best being Dallas at 109. D.C. also lives up to its name defensively, allowing just 71 points, the second fewest in the UFL behind Orlando’s 52.
The Stallions have scored barely half of what D.C. has, with 65 points, and have already given up 85 this season. Early on, this one looks like it could be all D.C.
The biggest question is who will be the starting quarterback this week. The newly arrived Thompson-Robinson has already been getting work in. As we wait for official word, I’d lean toward putting the new blood in and seeing what he’s got.
The Stallions had no one on the injury list to start the week. The Defenders had a longer list, with most not participating in Monday’s practice.
Power Rankings
- Orlando Storm (+1)
- D.C Defenders (+1)
- Dallas Renegades (-2)
- St. Louis Battlehawks (+2)
- Columbus Avaiators (+3)
- Louisville Kings (+2)
- Houston Gamblers (-3)
- Birmingham Stallions (-3)
When & Where to Watch
The Stallions welcome the D.C. Defenders to Protective Stadium on Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. CT, and the game will be available on Fox.
