Scott Adamson, Author at Adamsonmedia.com

Stallions, Showboats meet in Memphis

**Birmingham coach** **Skip Holtz says the Stallions** **have had a good week of practice.**

There’s still some heavy lifting to be done once the regular season ends, but the Birmingham Stallions are able to exhale in Week 10.

While a tight race in the United States Football League South Division is coming down to the wire, Birmingham already knows it’s playoff-bound regardless of what happens this weekend.

**Scott Adamson writes stuff. Follow him on Spoutable @ScottAdamson and Twitter @adamsonsl**

And what happens for the Stallions (7-2) is a rematch with the Memphis Showboats (5-4), who still technically have a shot at earning a postseason berth.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. CDT Saturday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium with FOX providing TV coverage.

But just because the defending USFL champions have already punched their playoff ticket thanks to a 38-15 drubbing of Houston in Week 9, it doesn’t mean they’re overlooking the next team on the schedule.

“I know a lot of people say this game doesn’t mean anything, but you wouldn’t know it by the practices we’ve had this week,” Stallions coach Skip Holtz said. “We’ve had a great week of practice, and I think this game is an opportunity for us to roll into the playoffs on a hot note. Any time we put the ball on the tee, we want to win.”

As for resting starters, that’s been a non-issue.

“I said to the players anyone that wants to sit, come see me,” Holtz said. “If this is something you need mentally, physically or emotionally before the playoffs, come see me. I haven’t had a single player come see me.”

Birmingham quarterback Alex McGough makes his case for MVP week after week, and currently leads the USFL with 18 passing touchdowns and 138 points. He’s thrown for 1,822 yards and also has five rushing TDs.

His roommate – tight end Jace Sternberger – paces the league in receiving touchdowns with six, and Davion Davis has the most Stallions receiving yards with 461.

C.J. Marable is tops in the circuit in all-purpose yards with 1,019 – 469 of them coming on the ground.

As a team, Birmingham averages a USFL-best 324.7 yards per game as well as a 50 percent third down conversion rate.

“We have a strong O-line, I think that’s what sets things off,” McGough said. “We can run, we can pass-block, we can do a lot of things. When they give me a few seconds back there, I can usually find someone to go to because we have so many good receivers.”

Defensively, the Stallions are led by safety Christian McFarland’s 49 tackles, while tackle Willie Yarbary has recorded 3.5 sacks. And fan favorite Scooby Wright is healthy enough to get back in the lineup at linebacker this week.

“I’m super excited to be back out there,” Wright said. “And I’m really proud of the team and the guys for stepping up and playing so well while I was gone. I’m just excited to go out there and contribute to my teammates.”

Although punters sometimes get lost in the shuffle, Colby Wadman has been a major contributor to Birmingham’s success. He tops the league with a 40.6-yard net average on 26 punts.

“I call Colby ‘Gus,’ our kicking mule … he averaged 57 yards a punt last week,” Holtz said. “He’s done an unbelievable job.”

There’s little doubt the homestanding Boats will have plenty of motivation after getting drilled by Birmingham, 42-2, earlier in the season at Protective Stadium.

QB Cole Kelley has passed for 1,380 yards and six touchdowns with Vinny Papale accounting for 337 of those yards and two scores.

DB Troy Warner leads the Showboats defense with 70 tackles and defensive end Jordan Williams has contributed 5.5 sacks.

Todd Haley’s team started out 0-3 but then put together five consecutive victories – the longest streak of the year in the USFL this season – before falling to New Orleans last week, 31-3.

“I love our team and I love our guys, but we have to play a lot better than that to think of anything beyond the regular season,” Haley said.

As for Holtz, he simply hopes his team stays the course.

“It’s taken us a while to gel, but I think we’re starting to play well together, communicate … I like the way they’re working. They’ve got great attitudes.

“They like to have fun and like to joke around, but when it comes time to work, they’ve been really focused and dialed in.”

PLAYER STATUS (via Stallions Twitter)

Free Agent Signing: LB Damon Lloyd.

Transferred Player to Active Roster: WR Austin Watkins, CB Bryan Mills, LB Scooby Wright, OG Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms.

Transferred Player to Inactive Roster: WR Adrian Hardy, CB Lorenzo Burns, LB Damon Lloyd.

Transferred Player to Injured Reserve List: OT Jahmir Ross-Johnson

Suspended List: LB Quentin Poling.

Game status: OL Jahmir Johnson: Out (R Shoulder), DL Jonathan Newsome: Out (R Knee), S Christian McFarland: Probable (R Hamstring, R Shoulder, L Thumb), S JoJo Tillery: Probable (L Knee), RB Ricky Person Jr.: Probable (L Hip), LB Elijah Sullivan: Probable (R Knee), LB Rashad Smith: Probable (L Knee), DB Tyree Robinson: Probable (R Thumb, R Wrist), WR Davion Davis: Probable (L Ankle), LB Scooby Wright: Probable (L Calf), OL Matt Kaskey: Full Go (R Thumb).

PLAYER STATUS (via Showboats Twitter)

Transferred Player to Active Roster: RB Ezra Gray, S Lamont McPhatter II, LB Jeff McCulloch, DT Frank Herron, OG Kwan Stallworth.

Transferred Player to Inactive Roster: RB Kerrith Whyte, LB Aaron Hansford, S Antonio Reed, OC Jordan McCray, DT Sulaiman Kamara.

Game status: DB Quenton Meeks: Out (R Ankle), OL Lukayus McNeil: Out (L Knee), S Kyree Woods: Out (Concussion), OL Jordan McCray: Out (L Leg), RB Kerrith Whyte: Out (R Ankle), S Antonio Reed: Out (L Wrist), OL Matt Burrell: Probable (Illness), LB Aaron Hansford: Questionable (R Ribs), LB Jeff McCulloch: Questionable (L Foot), DL John Atkins: Probable (R Shoulder), S Lamont McPhatter: Probable (L Ankle), DT Frank Herron: Probable (L Knee).

Counting crows

The crow seemed to float toward the smiling old man, its wings fully extended as it gently landed on the bench where he sat. As usual, peanuts and peanut shells were scattered liberally, and the bird dug in, spending half its time eating and the other half staring at his benefactor before abruptly flying away.

“Good to see you again, Stanley,” said Henry, who left the Greenvale Village assisted living facility each morning at 9 a.m. sharp to meet his feathered friends at the nearby park. “Thanks for not hogging it all, buddy … you’ve got friends coming.”

He did, indeed.

The birds had been around Henry for so long – and knew his habits so well – that they always showed up when it was feeding time. And they knew very well who was doing the feeding.

The best Henry could remember, he had been at the facility for less than a week when he decided a daily walk to the park would be his morning exercise. There was always a staff member giving him a loose follow – usually an attendant named Frank – but he was in good physical shape for a 91-year-old man, and able to get away far enough to have a bit of time to himself.

It was nothing personal … Frank and the rest of the staff had always treated him with kindness and dignity. But sometimes Henry wanted to feel as free as a bird, and sharing his time with Stanley was a way to do that.

Henry figured it was because that first day in the park – his stomach already growling after the 5 a.m. oatmeal had lost its stick – he sat down, leaned back, cracked open a shell and gobbled down the two peanuts.

Once he tossed the shell to the ground the crow swooped down – gave Henry a quick glance – clamped the shell in its bill, and headed toward the trees.

When another crow showed up the next day, Henry said, “Welcome back, Stanley!” and emptied a handful of peanuts on the bench.

He had no idea if it was the same bird – and he couldn’t tell you why he named him Stanley – but those were just small details.

He had found a friend, and a friend needs a name. Besides, he just seemed like a Stanley.

So, it became a routine, day in and day out. Stanley was always the first on the scene, followed shortly by other crows who – wouldn’t you know it? – looked just like Stanley.

After Stanley and the others had picked over all the shells and nutmeat they wanted, they headed for the skies.

And that was Henry’s cue to head back to his room.

On this particular Friday, Henry was moving a bit faster than usual as Frank intercepted him at the walkway leading to the main entrance of Greenvale Village.

“What’s up, Henry?” Frank asked. “You got a date or something?”

Henry smiled.

“I’m gonna go spend some quality time with my friends,” he said in an excited, raspy voice. “When you reach my age, you don’t have a lot to look forward to, but I’m looking forward to this.”

Frank patted him on the back and watched as Henry scooted toward the door and headed inside.

Frank didn’t know the details, but he assumed some old acquaintances had decided to come around for a visit. Henry’s wife had died several years earlier, and the couple had no children. In fact, Frank couldn’t recall at time when he’d ever seen Henry entertain guests – family or otherwise.

Frank’s Saturday shift began at 8:45 a.m., and he looked forward to checking in, escorting Henry to his favorite bench, and getting all the details about his night on the town. When he arrived, however, he was met with somber looks.

“I’ve got some sad news, Frank,” said Martha, who always manned the front desk on weekends. “Henry passed away … died in his sleep. Rex was on duty overnight and when he checked in about 4 a.m., Henry was gone.

“He was a sweet old man … I’m gonna miss him.”

Having been on staff for close to a decade, Frank was used to patients transitioning while being cared for in Greenvale Village. And even though the news hit him hard, he knew that Henry looked happy the last time he saw him. Hopefully he had one last, pleasant get-together before closing his eyes for good.

He never verbalized it for fear of sounding morbid, but Frank thought it was his duty and the duty of everyone who worked there to make sure residents lived comfortably and died peacefully.

For the next several weeks, out of habit, Frank would check the time and expect to see Henry headed for the door with a bag of peanuts in tow.

Eventually, a new resident discovered the joys of birdwatching and bird-feeding, and it always gave Frank a warm feeling when he saw the man tossing shelled nuts on the ground, just as Henry used to do.

Frank had shared pleasantries with him ever since he arrived, but the attendant figured since his bird feeding was apparently going to be a daily practice, he’d start a conversation.

“Those crows are always glad to see you, aren’t they Stanley?” Frank said.

“Well, I think they’re just following Henry, and Henry seems to like me.”

Frank chuckled.

“That’s funny. There used to be a fellow here named Henry who’d go out and feed the birds every day.”

Stanley reached up and gently patted Frank on the cheek.

“Oh, I know, son,” he said. “You should join me on the bench and visit with him sometime. He’d love to see you again.”

Stallions overwhelm Gamblers

Notes, quotes and numbers from Birmingham’s playoff-clinching 38-15 rout of Houston on Sunday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis …

HOW THEY SCORED

The teams swapped turnovers in the first quarter, and Houston was the first to capitalize on a miscue. After taking over at the Birmingham 30 following an Alex McGough fumble, Houston’s offense could muster only a yard of forward progress.

UAB product Nick Vogel still put points on the board, kicking a 47-yard field goal at 3:07 of the first to move the Gamblers in front, 3-0.

Houston was back in business after Deon Cain fumbled the ensuing kickoff return, setting the Gamblers up at the Stallions’ 26.

Again, the defense held and again, Vogel was called upon to salvage points. His 24-yard effort split the pipes, and it was 6-0 at 14:17 of the second quarter.

A botched punt by Houston’s Hunter Niswander resulted in a fumble, giving the Stallions first-and-10 at the Houston 20.

However, they couldn’t find paydirt, either, so Brandon Aubrey did the scoring honors with a 24-yard field goal 6:36 before halftime.

The 3-point trend continued in the waning moments of the second when Vogel was good from 36 yards at the :57 mark, and the Gamblers were up, 9-3.

A 41-yard McGough to Jace Sternberger connection put Birmingham in scoring range, and a 26-yard toss to C.J. Marable moved the markers down to the one.

A sack pushed the ball back to the six with 18 seconds left but McGough hit Sternberger on a 4-yard scoring play at :13 of the frame to account for the day’s first TD.

Aubrey kicked the extra point and a five play, 68-yard drive ended with the Stallions in the lead, 10-9.

Birmingham opened the second half in style, moving 67 yards in just four plays. McGough threw a perfect strike to Cain for a 38-yard touchdown at 13:03 of the third quarter, and Aubrey kicked the score to 17-9.

Houston answered with a methodical march but it fizzled short of the goal line. Vogel made it four-for-four with a 34-yard field goal at 5:56 of the third to cut the deficit to 17-12.

The Gamblers were on offense again quickly after McGough was picked off, scrimmaging from the Stallions 41.

They got as close at the four before it was time for Vogel, and the sidewinder’s 29-yard kick was right down the alley.

With 3:16 remaining in the third, Birmingham’s lead was down to 17-15.

Early in the fourth quarter, it was up to 24-15.

Marable cashed in an eight play, 47-yard march with a two-yard rush, and the kick had the Stallions ahead by nine with 14:19 to play.

The defending champions wrapped things up with 8:53 left.

Gamblers QB Kenji Bahar was scrambling for extra yardage when he lost the ball and it was snagged mid-air by recent free agent signee Matt Hankins, who rambled 32 yards for a touchdown.

The kick made it 31-15, and Birmingham (7-2) was playoff-bound while the Houston (5-4) needs a win over New Orleans next week to stay alive.

The winners added insurance 4:12 from the finish when McGough called his own number and scored on a 16-yard scamper to cap off a five play, 43-yard journey to paydirt.

Aubrey kicked the final to 38-15.

BIRMINGHAM COACH SKIP HOLTZ SAID …

“I’m just really proud to get to seven (wins). And the goal at the beginning was, let’s be as good as we can be. And I think we can be pretty good.”

HOUSTON COACH CURTIS JOHNSON SAID …

“I think when you play in this game, you’ve got to know who you’re playing against. That’s a great football team and they were the champs last year. You know, if you don’t score a touchdown to put them away pretty early, it’s gonna come back to haunt you.”

STANDOUT STATS

McGough finished 13-21-1 for 208 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 34 yards and another score to lead the team.

“I just think we kind of got into our rhythm after that two-minute drive (late in the first half) where we stopped thinking so much,” McGough said. “I think we stopped trying to do everything perfectly, and we just started playing football like we know how to play.”

Sternberger paced the Stallions’ receiving corps with three catches for 58 yards and a TD.

Quentin Poling had 10 tackles – eight solo – as well as an interception, half sack and two tackles for loss.

The defense limited Houston to 232 yards of total offense, and the Gamblers converted just four of 16 third down conversions.

“The real winner today is the way that defense played,” Holtz said. “I mean, the job they did with the poor field position, the job they did in the red zone. Five field goals, I mean, they did an unbelievable job in the red zone. I’m just really proud of the way the defense played.”

NOW THEY’RE EVEN

Heading into Sunday’s game, Houston was the only team in the USFL with a winning record against Birmingham. The teams split their two 2022 meetings, and the Gamblers won back in Week 5 of 2023.

The Week 9 outcome now puts the modern USFL series mark at 2-2, with the possibility they could also meet in the playoffs on June 25.

TODAY IN HISTORY

On this day in 1983, the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League defeated the Boston Breakers, 31-19, in front of 20,500 fans at Legion Field.

Birmingham quarterback Bob Lane ran for a TD and hit Gary Anderson on a TD pass, while Lonnie Johnson rushed for two more Birmingham touchdowns.

The Stallions improved to 8-7 with the victory.

NEXT UP

Birmingham returns to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium next Saturday to face the Memphis Showboats. TV coverage begins at 3 p.m. on FOX.