John Hoyland’s 50 yard field goal as time expired elevated the Houston Gamblers past the Birmingham Stallions 22-20 Sunday night at Shell Energy Stadium. Hoyland’s right foot was toxic all night for Birmingham, and a sweet tasting elixir for Houston. Hoyland accounted for five field goals on the night, saving his last for when the Gamblers needed it most.
The game was a seesaw affair throughout, as both teams struggled in varying ways. For Houston, they emasculated the Birmingham defense with a relentless running game between the twenties throughout the contest but stalled repeatedly inside the red zone and had to rely on Hoyland to bail them out time after time.
Then there was Birmingham, who shot themselves in the foot repeatedly with costly turnovers offensively. Quarterback Matt Corral ran hot and cold, but it was the cold that would prove to be ever so costly for the Stallions.
SCORELESS FIRST QUARTER
On the opening drive of the game, Houston pulverized the Stallions defense with a running game that in no way resembled the anemic effort put on display last week in their season opening loss at Dallas. On the games opening drive, it looked like the Gamblers were going to run the ball through the end zone straight into the tunnel, but Kyahva Tezino ended the Houston threat by forcing a Marcus Yarns fumble at the Birmingham one yard line…