March 3rd, 2019: San Antonio Commanders 12 @ Birmingham Iron 11

Game summary below by Evan Dudley for al.com, and photography by Vasha Hunt.  

Offensive struggles finally caught up with Birmingham (3-1) in its 12-11 loss to the San Antonio Commanders today at Legion Field. The Iron gained 283 total yards but were just 3-of-10 on third-downs while committing two late turnovers.

(Running back Trent) Richardson entered the fourth week of the season with 145 rushing yards and a league-leading six rushing touchdowns, but finished with 52 total yards and one touchdown. His backmate, former Maryland Terrapin Brandon Ross, added 64 yards on nine carries but fumbled twice in the final quarter only for San Antonio to recover.

Birmingham Iron running back Brandon Ross (45) gets into open field during the first half of the San Antonio Commanders at Birmingham Iron AAF pro football game, Sunday, March 3, 2019, at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.  

Luis Perez looked more comfortable in the Iron’s victory over Atlanta last week but finished 19-of-39 for 202 yards and two interceptions. Perez did flash his potential on both scoring drives but was inconsistent and threw his second interception of the season midway through the third quarter and added his second of the game on an onside attempt – there are no onside kicks in the AAF – after the Iron pulled within a single point on a Trent Richardson 1-yard touchdown run and the Iron’s subsequent 2-point conversion that cut San Antonio’s lead to 12-11 late in the fourth quarter.

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The Iron started the game with two big passes from Perez to Richardson and L’Damien Washington, but the drive stalled, and punter Colton Schmidt pinned San Antonio at its 1-yard line. The Commanders drove 89 yards but a third-down sack by Beniquez Brown ended the threat and forced a 39-yard field goal from San Antonio’s Nick Rose.

Birmingam Iron linebebacker Jonathan Massaquoi (57) and others stop San Antonio Commanders running back Trey Williams (35) during the first half of the San Antonio Commanders at Birmingham Iron AAF pro football game, Sunday, March 3, 2019, at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

Penalties and inconsistency plagued both teams on their next two drives until the Iron’s Nick Novak tied the game on a 33-yard field goal following a 12-play, 64-yard drive. Perez was 8-of-11 and completed his first four passes on the drive after starting the game 3-of-10 for 34 yards.

San Antonio opened the second half but were unable to move the ball while the Iron responded with their own failed drive. Schmidt pinned his fourth straight punt of the day inside the 10-yard line on the ensuing kick and Birmingham forced its first three-and-out of the day on the next possession.

Coming back out, Perez completed a 22-yard pass to Wes Saxton to midfield and an unnecessary roughness call one play later pushed the Iron to the San Antonio 35-yard line. Another defensive penalty moved Birmingham to the 24-yard line but Perez threw his second interception of the season on the next play.

Birmingham Iron defensive back Ryan White (22) cheers after the final stop of a double-goal-line stand during the second half of the San Antonio Commanders at Birmingham Iron AAF pro football game, Sunday, March 3, 2019, at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

The Commanders quickly moved down the field and took a 9-3 lead on a 12-yard rushing touchdown from Trey Williams. A 26-yard run by Kenneth Farrow on the first play of the drive and a defensive facemask penalty aided San Antonio on the drive.

Birmingham closed with a nine-play, 75-yard drive to cut the San Antonio lead to a single possession on the 1-yard score from Richardson. The Iron attempted the onside attempt but Perez was intercepted and the Commanders kneeled it three times to end the game.