Month: May 2023

Stallions brace for surging Gamblers

Skip Holtz and the Stallions face Houston on Saturday at 3 p.m.

The USFL South made a statement last weekend with a clean sweep of North Division opponents, but no team asserted itself more than the Houston Gamblers.

Behind Mark Thompson’s 134-yard, three touchdown rushing performance and quarterback Kenji Bahar throwing for 230 yards and two scores, Houston crushed Philadelphia, 41-16, on Saturday.

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“We didn’t shoot ourselves in the foot like we have in other games,” Gamblers coach Curtis Johnson said after the victory. “We got our running back (Thompson) back, and he might be our good luck charm. When you have a dynamic back like Mark it opens up so much. He’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical … and the offensive line played well.”

Houston started the season 0-2 but won its second straight game in impressive fashion, rolling up 463 yards in total offense while limiting the Stars to 199.

Now 2-2, the high-scoring Gamblers are looking to continue their upward trajectory in the South against a Birmingham team (3-1) seeking its second consecutive victory.

“They’ve got a new staff and they’re starting to feel really comfortable,” Birmingham coach Skip Holtz said. “They’re getting more aggressive on defense with what they’re doing, and I think they’re playing with a lot of confidence right now. These last two wins, I think, have gone a long way for them and they play extremely hard.”

Holtz said one thing that stands out about Houston is the intensity of Johnson’s club.

“Curtis has done a great job with his team, and they’ve bought in to playing hard,” Holtz said. “They’re a talented team and they’re very aggressive with what they do defensively and offensively. They’ve got two quarterbacks (Bahar and Terry Wilson) that they’re not afraid to run, and they present some problems with what they do schematically.

“They’re gonna methodically control the ball moving down the field running the ball, and they’ve got some talent to make some big plays over the top. They’re scoring a lot of points, and I think they’re getting more and more comfortable week in and week out.”

For Saturday’s game the two-QB system will consist of Wilson and Montell Cozart; Bahar is on the inactive roster due to an ankle injury.

The Stallions are coming off a 24-20 victory over Pittsburgh in Canton, a game that saw the visitors struggle early but gut out a win late. The defense held Pittsburgh to field goals in four goal-to-go situations, allowing only one touchdown.

“Last week we were minus two in the turnover battle and made some uncharacteristic mistakes, and we pride ourselves on playing smart,” Holtz said. “And we didn’t play real smart last week, but we still found a way to win. I think that’s a testament to the confidence these players have in each other, and the support of the offense and defense trying to win as a team.

“I think last week was the ultimate team win.”

Birmingham quarterback Alex McGough leads the league in touchdowns (eight) and points (60), while Deon Cain is tops in all-purpose yards with 526. Cain also paces the USFL with 491 kick return yards, which includes two TD returns. He was named Week 4 Special Teams Player of the Week but will miss Saturday’s game due to illness.

McGough isn’t afraid to sacrifice his body to get extra yards, and knows the Gamblers will be coming after him and his teammates hard on Saturday.

“They have a lot of strengths,” McGough said. “They’re a team that doesn’t stay blocked, they rush to the ball, the whole team is flying around. They play with a lot of energy, a lot of grit, passion, you can see it on the field. So, we’re expecting a really intense game on offense, and we know that we’re gonna have to stay in blocks and really grind out yards and try to find ways to beat them, but just know that they’re going to be giving 100 percent on every single play. It doesn’t matter what quarter.”

Davion Davis led the receiving corps last weekend with 71 yards and a touchdown on eight catches. He’s also Birmingham’s season leader in receiving yards with 268.

The wideout is impressed by a Houston team that limited Philadelphia to just 155 passing yards and a 4.2-yards per catch average.

“They’re a very tough team, and their D-line is very talented,” Davis said. “They might be smaller, but they have a lot of dogs on the whole team and defense in general. Everybody claws around the ball. But their offense is well rounded, as well. They have a great quarterback.”

The game is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday at Protective Stadium with FOX providing TV coverage.

“I just want to keep watching these guys play, evolve and develop,” Holtz said of his charges. “I want to see these guys continue to grow. This is a great challenge, but we’re excited to be back home.”

PLAYER STATUS (via Stallions Twitter)

Transferred Player to Active Roster: CB Bryan Mills OLB Elijah Sullivan OG Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms WR Myron Mitchell DE Darrion Daniels

Transferred Player to Inactive Roster: ILB Rashad Smith DE Joe Ozougwu OL O’Shea Dugas WR Deon Cain

Transferred Player to Injured Reserve List: LB Scooby Wright

Game Status Report: DB JoJo Tillery: Out (B Ankles) DE Joe Jackson: Out (R Ankle) S Christian McFarland: Probable (R Hamstring, R Shoulder) TE La’Michael Pettway: Probable (L Foot) OL O’Shea Dugas: Probable (R Knee) CB Donnie Lewis II: Probable (R Hand) LB Scooby Wright: Out (L Calf) DB Brian Allen: Probable (L Shoulder) LB Rashad Smith: Questionable (L Ankle) WR Davion Davis: Probable (B Thighs) WR Adrian Hardy: Probable (R Knee) OL Matt Kaskey: Full Go (R Thumb) WR Deon Cain: Out (Illness)

Walking to the future

The ballroom of the Capital Roadside Inn filled up quickly as the line of people moved steadily across the marbled burgundy carpet, each securing one of the black, stackable banquet chairs lined up from wall to wall and filling the rows from front to back.

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Seating capacity was listed at 140 but there were at least 20 more than that – enough to make a fire marshal nervous had he been present.

And who knows? He might well have been; it’s not often you’re given a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill to listen to a presentation that – according to the advertisements sent out via social media – would last no more than 20 minutes, guaranteed.

“Find your seats, everyone … please, find your seats,” said the host of the event, Booker DelRay.

Tall and sinewy, DelRay was a scientist by trade, although his silver onesie, bright red eyeglasses and high-top fade made him look more like a Met Gala fashionista than a researcher in the Physics Department at Howard University.

“OK, we’ve got some men and women in the aisles who are gonna hand you what looks like a watch, and I’m gonna explain to you that it’s much more than that.”

The item in question did, indeed, look very much like a watch; it was dark blue and circular with red digital numbers in the center and smaller yellow numbers below them. Once in their hands, those in the audience gave them the once over before turning their attention back to the speaker.

“What you guys are holding is called the Time Traveler 3023,” DelRay said, walking toward the gathering. “It’s a timepiece in the truest sense because it allows you travel through time.”

As expected, that last line drew laughter, and DelRay managed a big smile himself. “Don’t believe me?” he asked before pointing at a woman in the front row. “Hi … hi, there … would you stand up please? I promise I’m not going to embarrass you.”

A twentysomething brunette wearing blue jeans, flip-flops and a Donald Duck T-shirt slowly rose to her feet.

“Look at your Time Traveler 3023 and read off the numbers for me, if you don’t mind,” he said.

She centered the device in her left palm and observed it briefly.

“The red ones say 7:07 and the yellow ones say 0,” she said with a grin.

“Great. Now, I want you to walk out of the ballroom and go to the front entrance of the hotel, then turn around and walk back to your seat. There’s no rush, but if you guys want to get out of here in 15 minutes, you probably need to go at a pretty good clip.”

She quickly headed for the aisle and started toward the exit, drawing all of the eyes in the room. Most of the attendees sat quietly as she made her journey, one that was swift and, apparently, uneventful.

“Thank you,” DelRay said as the young woman returned to her seat. “Now, read aloud the numbers on your TT3023.”

“The red says 7:09, the yellow says 197.”

DelRay then looked across the room. “Ladies and gentlemen, what you’ve just witnessed is time travel,” he said. “When this woman left, it was 7:07 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time. When she returned, it was 7:09. She traveled two minutes and 197 steps into the future.”

A collective groan went up from the crowd.  DelRay chuckled. “OK, that was lame, but that’s how we like to market this product,” he said. “It has no batteries, yet it’s guaranteed to keep perfect time, all the time. Plus – for all of you exercise enthusiasts – it’s an easy way for you to keep up with your steps every day.

“But we want everyone to know about the TT3023, which is why my associates are heading toward the aisles now and going to give each one of you 25 more at absolutely no cost. You made $100 here tonight, but now I want each of you to bring 25 friends – and they have to bring their 25 time pieces – to the D.C. Civic Arena one week from tonight at 7 p.m., and not a minute later.

“Once we’re assembled, each of them will get $100 and each of you will receive $2,500. We believe in this product so much we’re willing to lose money to eventually make money. Thank you all, and safe travels going home.”

DelRay briskly trotted out the side door entrance to the ballroom while members of the crowd excitedly made their way to the parking lot and, no doubt, began calling and texting their friend and acquaintances. He had previously reserved a room on the first floor, and once he reached the door, he swiped his key and went inside. 

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a TT3023, and placed it face down on the small desk situated in the corner of the room. “Status report,” he said.

Seconds later, a small hologram appeared above the timepiece, projecting the image of an Asian man who – like DelRay – was also wearing a silver onesie. “Sir, we distributed over 2,000 TT3023s here in Beijing, and we did similar numbers in Hangzhou and Chengdu,” he said. “No word yet from Russia and Great Britain, but confidence is high all the quotas have been met.”

DelRay exhaled.

“Good job, Ling,” he said. “I’ll check in with Canada and Mexico and see where we stand, there. I wish we could’ve harvested more time particles from the black hole to power these things, but we got what we got. We have only one shot to get all these people transported to 3023, and getting them all in position at the same time next week is imperative.”

DelRay rubbed his eyes, then looked at Ling.

“After the nukes start dropping, any survivors from 2023 will have to start over with sticks and stones.”

Stallions rally past Maulers

Notes, quotes and numbers from Birmingham’s 24-20 victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday in Canton …

HOW THEY SCORED

Pittsburgh cashed in on the opening possession of the contest with a 20-yard Chris Blewitt field goal at 10:34 of the first quarter. The Maulers had a first-and-goal situation from the Birmingham seven but failed to punch it in on three tries, settling for a 3-0 lead after an eight play, 43-yard drive.

The Maulers added to their lead following a turnover.

Defensive back Mark Gilbert picked off an Alex McGough pass at midfield, and returned it to the Stallions’ 37.

A 35-yard first down pass from Troy Williams to Bailey Gaither put the ball at the two, but the hosts got no further, and Blewitt was called on to try another field goal. He nailed a 22-yarder at 13:14 of the second, and it was 6-0.

Another pick gave Pittsburgh another opportunity, but once again Ray Horton’s team was kept out of the end zone by the Birmingham defense.

Blewitt booted a 27-yard field goal 5:56 before halftime, capping off a 12 play, 76-yard march and increasing his team’s lead to 9-0.

The Stallions finally got on the board late in the second quarter, also via the kicking game.

Brandon Aubrey split the pipes from 37 yards away at the 1:49 juncture, and a nine play, 49-yard drive ended with the Maulers on top, 9-3.

After the game’s first three-and-out Birmingham got the ball back – and played beat the clock to get the first TD of the contest.

McGough highlighted an eight play, 60-yard junket with a five-yard touchdown run that saw him poke the ball across the stripe before going out of bounds as time expired.

Aubrey kicked the PAT, and the Stallions led 10-9 at the break.

The Maulers regained the lead late in the third stanza and – you guessed it – it was Blewitt who made it happen.

On the final play of an 11 play, 62-yard drive, the kicker drilled a

46-yard field goal at 3:35 of the third to give the edge back to Pittsburgh, 12-10.

McGough pulled off one of the season’s great scrambles to nudge Skip Holtz’s crew ahead at 9:40 of the fourth.

On third-and-goal play from the enemy nine, he wriggled his way in and out of trouble and finally found Davion Davis in the back of the end zone for a touchdown connection.

Aubrey kicked the lead to 17-12, adding a bonus point to a 14 play, 75-yard trip to paydirt.

Finally, the Maulers showed they could score touchdowns, too.

Going 61 yards in five plays, Williams did most of the work himself on a beautiful 34-yard scoring scoot with 6:52 showing on the game clock.

Isiah Hennie ran in the 2-point conversion, and the Maulers held a 20-17 advantage.

That lead lasted a grand total of 15 seconds.

Deon Cain took the ensuing kickoff back 91 yards for a TD, and after the kick it was Birmingham showing the way, 24-20, with 6:37 left.

It was the second game in a row Cain had taken a kickoff to the house, and proved to be the winning score.

Birmingham improved to 3-1 while Pittsburgh slipped to 1-3.

BIRMINGHAM COACH SKIP HOLTZ SAID …

“Just really proud of this football team and the way they competed. Losing the game last week, I thought we had a really good week of practice. We had an eight-day week, got a chance to get a little bit healthy, and I thought we were going to play really well offensively. And defensively I thought our team was focused and into it, and I’ll say we played a really good football team.”

PITTSBURGH COACH RAY HORTON SAID ….

“Today, the Maulers beat the Maulers. We gave up a touchdown on special teams, we were oh-for-three in the red zone, and we gave up another touchdown. Skip has a well-oiled machine and they’re champions for a reason. There are no moral victories, only victories on the scoreboard. But we’re headed in the right direction.”

STANDOUT STATS

McGough bounced back from throwing back-to-back interceptions by going 17-29-2 for 157 yards and a touchdown, and leading the Stallions ground game with 48 yards and a score on 10 carries.

“There are moments in games where it doesn’t go your way,” McGough said. “I threw a comeback with a guy in my face, and Deon runs a heckuva post and I just underthrew the crap out of him, and I’m so mad at myself. But you don’t win every time.

“But to see every player on the team come up to me and say, ‘Don’t worry about it,’ it’s just so uplifting.”

Davis caught eight balls for 71 yards and a touchdown.

Cain had five kick returns for 166 yards and the decisive TD.

“I really just wanted to spend time with my teammates then and enjoy the moment,” he said. “As a kick returner you just want to get positive yards for your team. Field position is the biggest key in football, and you want to get at least 25 yards guaranteed, and maybe more.”

Defensively, linebacker Scooby Wright returned from being sidelined with injuries to lead the winners with six tackles, including five solos.

“Just to have him back … it’s not just the plays he makes, but his presence,” Holtz said. “He’s kind of a calming presence for the entire defense. It’s like, when it starts reeling and they make a couple of first downs, I just think he’s got great knowledge, he understands the game so much. I think it’s invaluable having him in there.”

For Pittsburgh, Williams finished 21-33-0 for 217 aerial yards and ran for 63 more and a TD.

Linebacker Kyahva Tezino had a big night in a losing effort, registering six individual tackles and 11 overall.

GETTING HIS KICKS

Blewitt has been a member of the Maulers for less than two weeks,  but already he’d made major contributions to his team.

In a 21-13 victory over the Philadelphia Stars on April 30 he kicked five field goals – including a 50-yarder – and the sidewinder was on target against Birmingham as well.

He accounted for all nine of his team’s first half points as he upped his field goal numbers to eight-for-eight since becoming a Pittsburgh placekicker.

His next kick in the third quarter gave his team a 12-10 lead, and he finished four-for-four for the evening.

NEXT UP

Birmingham returns to Protective Stadium next Saturday to take on the Houston Gamblers (2-2). After dropping their first two games of 2023, the Gamblers are now riding a two-game winning streak.

On Saturday Houston routed the Philadelphia Stars, racking up 463 yards of total offense and getting a 134-yard, three touchdown rushing performance from Mark Thompson.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. on May 13 and the game will be televised on FOX.