Author: Scott Adamson

The most recent pro football rivalry between Alabama’s Magic City and Tennessee’s Bluff City started in the modern United States Football League last season. It continues in the United Football League on Saturday at Protective Stadium, with the Birmingham Stallions hosting the Memphis Showboats at 6 p.m.

And while Birmingham (2-0) comes into its first UFL home clash following a hard-fought road win at Michigan – and owning a nine-game winning streak dating back to the 2023 USFL campaign – Memphis (1-1) suffered a stunning loss in its 2024 Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium debut last weekend.

The ’Boats led the San Antonio Brahmas, 19-8, with 49 seconds to play but ended up losing, 20-19.

“This week is a big game for us, and last week we let ‘em off the hook,” Memphis coach John DeFilippo said. “It was a disappointing game, obviously. Probably one of the most disappointing games I’ve been a part of. But our players have practiced really well this week, and have had good tempo.”

DeFilippo’s team will need to shake off its frustration against a club playing great defense and possessing an offense that seems just a step away from breaking out of its shell.

“It was great to get a win on the road,” Birmingham boss Skip Holtz said. “Any time you can get a win in professional sports, it’s a huge deal. But having the opportunity to play the first two games on the road and winning both … it was a great job by this football team.”

The defense came through with seven sacks last Sunday, and leads the UFL in total defense. Birmingham allows just 233.5 yards per game.

“We played really well on defense,” Holtz said. “Outside of the big play we gave up and a couple of personal fouls late in the game, I thought that our defense really played an excellent football game. It’s great to see them flying around, buzzing around, playing the way they are, especially for a guy like me with an offensive background.”

Carlos Davis, Lorenzo Burns and Chris Jackson lead the team with 10 tackles each, while Davis has three sacks for 22 backward yards – tops in the circuit.

The dual QB system of Adrian Martinez and Matt Corral has produced just one passing TD, but Martinez is the second leading rusher on the team behind C.J. Marable.

Marable has 121 yards and a touchdown, while Martinez – who will get the start on Saturday – has accounted for 117 yards and a score. Ricky Person Jr. has rushed for two touchdowns and is the only Stallion thus far to find the end zone more than once this season.

The receiving corps is led by Deon Cain, who had 96 yards and one paydirt reception.

“There’s frustration that we were not as productive in the red zone as we were week one,” Holtz said. “I’ve always used the analogy that getting the ball down inside the five and kicking a field goal would be like driving the green on a par-5 and then six-putting it for a double-bogey.

“We’ve got to be able to put that ball in the end zone.”

Despite those issues, Birmingham is atop the UFL in total offense with 349.5 yards per game.

“We have a lot of respect for them,” DeFilippo said. “They’ve won a lot of games and our coaching staff is very familiar with them from last year, having to play them three times when we were with the (New Orleans) Breakers.

“The number one thing we have to do is contain their two quarterbacks. They want to run the football and break contain. Special teams-wise, we have to be ready for the exotics that they bring, and we can’t be oh-for-six in the red zone. We have to score touchdowns.”

Case Cookus leads the Memphis offense, and comes into the rivalry game 40-71-1 passing for 398 yards and two touchdowns.

Cookus is also the team’s leading rusher with 77 yards, with Darius Victor close behind with 72 yards on 27 carries.

The ‘Boats have yet to score a rushing touchdown in 2024.

Jonathan Adams and Daewood Davis have 125 and 101 receiving yards, respectively.

Malik Lawal leads the defense with 10 tackles (eight solo), while T.J. Green has eight and Delrick Abrams, six.

This will mark the fourth meeting between teams coached by Holtz and DeFilippo.

“He’s a friend 363 days a year,” said the Memphis coach. “Coach Holtz and I are very close. He’s a guy I’ve respected personally for a long time. We were in the hub together last year so we were always talking – we went out to dinner a couple of times. I always hope the best for him and I know he feels the same way.

“It’s gonna be a great game on Saturday and I’m looking forward to it.”

While Holtz is hoping his team improves to 3-0, he also wants a big crowd on hand to see it.

The Stallions’ 2023 USFL championship banner will be unveiled and 2023 league MVP Alex McGough – now with the Green Bay Packers – will be on the field to help his former team celebrate.

Tonight, fans can visit with several of the Stallions players and Holtz from 5-6 p.m. at Ghost Train Brewing at the Stallions pre-game party and championship ring celebration.

The free event is open to the public, and there will be autographs, photos and giveaways. Holtz will be presenting players and coaching staff from the 2023 season with their championship rings.

“I’m excited to see the turnout,” Holtz said. “Not only are we coming back to Birmingham, but having the ring ceremony where I know our players are really excited about that opportunity. They worked really hard a year ago for that championship, and now to be able to be rewarded for some of the fruits of their labor is great.

“We’re going to have the opportunity to bring that second championship banner to Protective Stadium, and Alex McGough is coming to the game on Saturday. I’m really looking forward to having the opportunity to come back and be part of all that.”

Broken jaw, sprained ankle, leg injury, shoulder injury, foot injury … football players often play through pain, and Birmingham Stallions quarterback Adrian Martinez has suffered more than his share of it.

Whether it was college stops at Nebraska and Kansas State or his debut in the United Football League on March 30, the signal caller has become quite accustomed to getting knocked down.

Getting back on his feet, however, better describes what kind of athlete he is.

“The journey has been up and down,” Martinez said. “I mean, that’s been the story of my football career and it’s just been the story my life so far and, and honestly, I’m thankful for it. I would be lying to you if I told you this is where I expected to be right now in my life, but I’m thankful I’m here.

“I’m thankful I’m playing for (Stallions coach Skip Holtz). I’m thankful I’m on this really, really good team with a lot of talent. And it’s definitely a learning experience. And at the end of the day, I love ball. I love football, and it’s an opportunity, and an opportunity to get back to the NFL.”

Martinez is splitting time with Matt Corral behind center, and in two games he has gone 10-21-1 passing for 114 yards while rushing for 117 yards on just 11 carries – good enough for a team-high 10.6-yards per tote.

He went down with a foot injury in the 27-14 Week One victory over Arlington, but entered and exited last Sunday’s 20-13 win over Michigan healthy.

Now, it’s all about improving week-by-week, game-by-game.

“For me, it’s really about the mechanics … fine tuning it,” he said. “At times, I can find myself getting in trouble when I overstride. So, if you look at the first interception I threw this year (against Arlington), I overstrided it and the ball sailed on me just a little bit more than what I wanted. The read was right, the footwork right … you know, the timing was right. But the throw was a little off because of the little mechanics and things like that.

“You just have to hammer home, make it a habit and you just have to go execute it. It’s eliminating those little things that can pop up here and there.”

Martinez spent four seasons at Nebraska, completing 670 of 1,055 passes for 8,491 yards and 45 touchdowns against 30 interceptions.

He closed out his college career at Kansas State, going 118-184-1 for 1,261 yards and six TDs.

But he was even more accomplished as a running quarterback, racking up 2,928 yards over five seasons and hitting paydirt with his legs 45 more times.

He was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent last May and released in August.

Although Holtz said you “never say never” when it comes to naming a firm QB1, he likes the work he’s seen from both quarterbacks so far.

“What I’m doing right now is trying to get both quarterbacks ready,” Holtz said on Tuesday. “The last thing I want to do is put one guy on the bench or just sit him over there until all of a sudden somebody gets injured and then you go, ‘Hey, we need you to go win a game. I know you haven’t taken a snap all year.’ I think my goal has been to get two quarterbacks that have never played in this offense ready. I feel like I’ve got an obligation to get both ready.

“They both came here because they want to get film, and they both came here because they want to win. And I think as they both have shown on the field that they are both playing at a very high level and a very high quality and we could win with both of them.”

Martinez says he has a great relationship with both Corral and J’Mar Smith, the former Birmingham starter who has yet to be activated in 2024.

“We spend probably more time with each other than anybody else,” Martinez said. “I mean, that’s kind of how it goes. We have meetings together, there’s lunch, there’s the practice field … we’re constantly around each other. And we have all these different experiences. J’Mar’s been up to the CFL at times, Matt – he was in New England and Carolina – and I have my own experiences, so there’s a lot to share.

“And I think it’s important that we have a close, supportive quarterback room and I think Skip really does a great job of facilitating that so we can help each other.”

The Stallions (2-0) take on the Memphis Showboats (1-1) on Saturday at Protective Stadium, marking their 2024 home debut and first game in the Magic City as a member of the UFL.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CDT.