Written by Garin Turner
Week two of the inaugural AAF season got underway as the Birmingham Iron (2-0) defeated the Salt Lake Stallions (0-2) 12-9 at Legion Field in Birmingham. Former Alabama standout Trent Richardson scored on a 2-yard run with 4:40 left in the game to give the Iron the lead.
The Iron trailed 9-0 before coming back for the win. The first touchdown for the Stallions came on a Joel Bouagnon 3-yard run shortly before halftime. The touchdown was the first for the Stallions on the season. Taylor Bertolet connected on a 53-yard field goal to give the Iron a 9-0 lead at the half.
Despite being held to 214 yards of total offense, the Iron found a way to grind out a victory. Stallions punt returner De’Mornay Pierson-El was stripped of the ball at his own 22-yard line by Iron cornerback Jamar Summers. After a mad dash for the ball, linebacker Shaheed Salmon recovered the ball in the end zone, giving the Iron their first score of the game 9-6.
Salt Lake had a chance to tie the game after the Richardson touchdown but Bertolet missed from 48 yards. Bertolet had a rough day as he also missed from 50 and 55 yards. A third attempt never happened from 27 yards as the snap was too low.
For the Iron, Richardson had 91 total yards from scrimmage with 19 carries for 41 yards and six receptions for 50 yards. Quarterback Luis Perez was 24 of 38 for 184 yards.
For the Stallions, Bouagnon had 70 yards rushing on 11 carries. Brandon Oliver added 59 yards on 14 carries. Josh Woodrum was active at quarterback but didn’t play due to a hamstring injury last week watched as Austin Allen went 15 of 31 for 114 yards.
The Birmingham Iron go on the road for the first time this season next week as they take on the Atlanta Legends.
Salt Lake Stallions will look to get into the win column next week as they host the Arizona Hotshots in what will be the Stallions home opener.
(Image Credit: BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – FEBRUARY 16: Trent Richardson #33 of the Birmingham Iron greets fans following an Alliance of American Football game at Legion Field against the Salt Lake Stallions on February 16, 2019 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/AAF/Getty Images)
