ST. LOUIS, Mo. â The Birmingham Stallions have cemented their dynasty status with a dominant 25-0 victory over the XFL Conference champion San Antonio Brahmas in the UFL Championship Game this past Sunday. The championship win marks the Stallions’ third consecutive title, joining the ranks of Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers (1965-1967) and Hugh Campbell’s Edmonton Elks (Eskimos, 1978-1982) as one of the few pro football teams to achieve this feat.
Handling business on the defensive side of the ball was Temecula’s own Lorenzo Burns, whose performance was instrumental in the Stallions’ success. Head coach Skip Holtz, his staff, and players propelled the team to a remarkable 32-4 record over three seasons, never recording more than two losses in a single season. Holtz’s leadership has developed two league MVPs and several NFL players, including Burns and Dallas Cowboys’ kicker Brandon Aubrey, a First Team All-Pro.
The Stallions’ defensive talent was on full display at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, where they faced the Brahmas, who boasted the UFL’s No. 1 scoring defense. Burns’ impactful plays included six tackles, four solo, and one pass breakup, contributing to the Stallions’ ability to maintain a strong defensive front. The Brahmas entered the game having allowed more than 20 points only once all season, but by the end of the third quarter, they had given up 22 and had not scored at all.
The success of the Birmingham Stallions is a testament to the vision and strategy of general manager Zach Potter and Holtz. They have built a team from players who excelled in college but fell through the cracks during various training camps and roster cuts. Potter emphasized that these players are not at their lowest point but are overcoming roadblocks and adversity to prove their worth.
“They’re not essentially at their lowest point, I don’t believe in that,” Potter told the media earlier this year. “I just think it’s another roadblock; adversity that these guys are going to have to overcome and conquer. But the way that we do it is we’re trying to acquire talent that we believe will be difficult for other teams to acquire.”
After winning two championships in the USFL, Burns signed with the Cleveland Browns last summer and had a solid preseason. Despite his performance, which included 11 tackles in four games, he was released in mid-September to make room for more offensive linemen. Burns re-signed with the Stallions, continuing to demonstrate his skills and dedication.
Burns’ football career began at the University of Arizona, where he accumulated impressive stats over five collegiate seasons, including 191 tackles and nine interceptions. His consistent performance has made him a valuable asset to the Stallions and a player to watch for future NFL opportunities.
Meanwhile, other local talents are also making their mark in professional spring football. Kellen Pachot, a 2017 graduate of Redlands High School, is playing in Germany for Lagenfeld. Xzavier Crawford, a 2015 graduate of Murrieta Valley High School, is with the Washington Wolfpack. Simeon Burns, Lorenzo’s brother and a 2017 graduate of Linfield Christian, is playing indoor league football with the first-place Green Bay Blizzard. Kevin Atkins, a 2016 graduate of Vista Murrieta, finished the season with the DC Defenders in the UFL.
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