Month: April 2024

The United Football League exists for two primary reasons.

For the players, it offers a stage in which they can audition for a promotion to – or back to – the NFL.

And for fans of year-round gridiron action, it’s quality entertainment in a time that used to be baseball’s domain.

All of the UFL coaches realize this, but I’m not sure any of them grasp it better that Birmingham Stallions boss Skip Holtz.

From the time-share quarterback system featuring Adrian Martinez and Matt Corral, to the next man up mentality that usually sees the next man step up, he knows how to win the players as well as win the game.

And it’s extremely fun to watch.

Saturday night at Rice Stadium was another object lesson, as the Stallions improved to 5-0 with a no-doubt-about-it, 32-9 victory over the Houston Roughnecks (1-4).

“It’s been a very difficult week for me personally … I lost a dear friend this week, and it’s been really a tough week for me,” Holtz said. “But I shared it with the team, and what the emotional level we were going to have to bring, and really proud of what they did. Really proud of the attitude that they showed up with and the way they played. I thought defensively we did what we had to do to get off the field. We gave up the one drive right before half but other than that, I thought our defense played an excellent football game.

“And I thought offensively, it was a very blue collar, businesslike approach.”

It was Martinez’s turn to run the show and he ran it like a champ, finishing with 138 rushing yards and going 11-20-0 through the air for 155 yards and a touchdown in helping the club win its 12^th consecutive contest.

Holtz likes to say players come to the UFL to get film and win, and Martinez was able to check both those boxes in Houston with an outstanding performance.

“This week was Adrian’s game,” Holtz said. “They go out and compete on Tuesday, Wednesday, and I make that decision (on who’ll start) Thursday morning. I think they both need the reps on Tuesday and Wednesday to continue their growth and the development in their first year in this offense.

“But I’ll make the decision on Thursday who’s going to play and so when it became Adrian’s game, he’s going to go wire to wire unless he gets injured. I thought he had a heckuva night with his feet tonight and a couple of big plays.”

This one was basically over in the second quarter when Birmingham hung 20 points on the hosts in the frame.

Leading 26-9 at the break, all the Stallions had to do was hold serve the rest of way.

They did that, never allowing the ‘Necks to get any breathing room and adding a pair of field goals to extend their advantage. Aside from shutting Houston out over the final 30 minutes, the Birmingham “D” forced two turnovers on the night and limited Curtis Johnson’s charges to a mere 36 rushing yards.

Larry Roundtree III parlayed his first Birmingham appearance into a 50-yard, one TD night carrying the ball, and Jace Sternberger led the receiving corps with 46 receiving yards and a score.

The winners outgained the hosts, 358-271.

Roundtree played in place of C.J. Marable, who was out of action this week to tend to family matters.

“It’s nice to see what (Roundtree) is gonna do,” Holtz explained. “We know he’s talented. I mean, Tree is like the leading rusher in Missouri history. He had 1,000-yard seasons in the SEC, a very talented back, and spent some time in the NFL. I really liked what he’s done, the way he’s played, the way he’s progressed, and the unselfish attitude that he’s had.

“I think he’s getting better every week and I told him last week I said, ‘Look, I don’t know when you’re going to get your opportunity because (Marable and Ricky Person) are playing really well right now. But when you get your opportunity, just be prepared to make the most of it and keep learning and getting better.’ He’s humble … he’s a phenomenal young man.”

Mark Gilbert paced the Stallions’ resistance with 11 tackles (nine solo) and Nevelle Clarke and JoJo Tillery each snagged INTs.

Tillery, unfortunately, pulled a hamstring while returning his interception.

Birmingham now leads the USFL Conference of the UFL by two and a half games over Michigan; the Panthers play Memphis on Sunday.

Houston QB Reid Sinnett was 27-38-1 for 203 yards and a touchdown, with Justin Hall catching 11 balls for 93 yards.

“We came in and said if we can get up – if we can do what we’re supposed to do offensively – it can change the game,” Holtz said. “We were able to limit a little bit what they can do.”

Scoring plays: Birmingham, Ricky Person Jr., 6-yard run, 8:44 first quarter, 2-point conversion failed, Stallions 6, Roughnecks 0; Houston, J.J. Molson, 36-yard field goal, 13:52 second quarter, Stallions 6, Roughnecks 3; Birmingham, Larry Roundtree III, 5-yard run, 10:21 second quarter, 2-point conversion failed, Stallions 12, Roughnecks 3; Birmingham, Jace Sternberger, 27-yard reception from Adrian Martinez, 7:33 second quarter, 2-point conversion failed, Stallions 18, Roughnecks 3; Birmingham, Person Jr., 2-yard run, 2:01 second quarter, 2-point conversion, Martinez run, Stallions 26, Roughnecks 3; Houston, Braedon Bowman, 1-yard reception from Reid Sinnett, :11 second quarter, 2-point conversion failed, Stallions 26, Roughnecks 9; Birmingham, Ramiz Ahmed, 37-yard field goal, 5:27 third quarter, Stallions 29, Roughnecks 9; Birmingham, Ahmed, 27-yard field goal, 13:48 fourth quarter, Stallions 32, Roughnecks 9.

Standout stat: 12. The number of consecutive victories by the Stallions, a record for a Birmingham-branded professional football team. They broke the Birmingham Americans’ mark of 10 straight last week against DC.

Next up: The Stallions stay on the road to face Memphis at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium next Saturday at 11 a.m. CDT. The game will be televised by ABC.

Familiar stadium: Although Saturday was the first time the Birmingham Stallions had visited Rice Stadium, Holtz is quite familiar with the venue. During his tenure as head coach of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, playing Rice – at Rice Stadium – was a regular occurrence. Both schools were members of Conference USA.

Before today’s UFL encounter, Holtz’s last appearance at the 47,000-seat structure was on November 27, 2021, when his Bulldogs fell to the Owls, 35-31.

A day earlier Louisiana Tech officials and Holtz announced that they were “parting ways.”

“I am not done coaching football and have great passion and energy to continue to lead young men through this game that I love so much,” Holtz said in a statement.

Less than two months later, he was named head coach of the Stallions.

This week the Birmingham Stallions have seen Scooby Wright – arguably the team’s most iconic player – hang up his cleats due to a neck injury suffered during last weekend’s 20-18 victory over DC.

They’re also without the services of their third leading tackler, Chris Jackson, who has been placed on injured reserve.

C.J. Marable, the United Football League’s third-leading rusher, has missed practice due to personal reasons and won’t play on Saturday against the Houston Roughnecks.

That’s the bad news.

The good news?

Birmingham remains unbeaten and unbowed, and continues its run as the most successful team in professional spring football.

Currently sitting at 4-0 and holding a two-game lead in the UFL’s USFL Conference, the Stallions take their show on the road to face Houston (1-3).

“We’ve got a challenge this week with Houston, who is another 1-3 football team but when you look at them, they just got a couple of guys back from injury,” Birmingham coach Skip Holtz said. “I think they’re playing with a lot of confidence right now and they went in and had a big win last week. Played really well having their tailback (Mark Thompson) back. He was the USFL Offensive Player of the Year a year ago, very talented, big physical running back, which we know is gonna pose some problems for us as a defense.

“And they beat us last year – we were 1-1 against them. They play a very aggressive style of play on defense and we’re gonna have to play really well. In order to win, we just have to stay focused.”

The Roughnecks have taken their name from last season’s XFL team but, in reality, are the rebranded Gamblers from the USFL.

Not only did they split with Birmingham last season, but handed the two-time USFL champions their only loss in the inaugural campaign of 2022.

In fact, Houston is the only team that has defeated the Stallions more than once and is 2-2 all-time against them.

Thompson was limited and had just 34 yards on nine carries in last week’s 17-9 win over Arlington, but he also scored a touchdown and provided a huge boost to the team in his return to action.

“Mark Thompson really helped us get over the hump,” Roughnecks boss Curtis Johnson said. “He made some really good runs … and he’s on a pitch count.”

Reid Sinnett had a solid day behind center, hitting on 18 of 28 aerials for 191 yards and a TD, and connected with nine different receivers in the “W.”

The Houston defense also limited Arlington to 193 yards of total offense, forcing two fumbles, picking off a pass and registering two sacks.

As for Birmingham, it leads the UFL in 17 statistical categories, including total offense (1,479 yards), passing yards (917), rushing yards (562), all-purpose yards (2,023) field goals (12), sacks (17), rushing touchdowns allowed (none) and least points allowed (59).

“I feel like we are just now starting to hit our stride and starting to feel a little bit more comfortable with each other with the quarterbacks making some of the line calls and with the communication with the things going on at the line of scrimmage,” Holtz said. “I think we’re a work in progress, but I think we’re getting better and have to continue to strive to work on all those little things in order to get to be where we want to be.”

Once again, the Stallions will employ the 1-2 quarterback punch of Matt Corral and Adrian Martinez. Corral has passed for 494 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 99 yards; Martinez has thrown for 448 yards and two scores and churned out a team-leading (and second in the UFL) 165 ground yards with a TD.

Martinez will get the start on Saturday.

“I know it’s not easy when you play two quarterbacks, and I’ve heard all the arguments about how it doesn’t work and the chemistry doesn’t work,” Holtz said. “But we did it two years ago with Alex (McGough) and J’Mar (Smith).”

Through four weeks, Deon Cain is the only receiver to have doubled digit catches. His 16 receptions have resulted in 264 yards and TD.

Tight end Jace Sternberger has caught eight balls for 155 yards and a touchdown, and Marlon Williams and Amari Rodgers have each been on the money end of paydirt passes.

The loss of Jackson and Wright is a blow to the defense, but the unit has an abundance of talent.

Linebacker Kyahva Tezino has a staggering 32 tackles – including 19 solo – followed by cornerback Lorenzo Burns with 20 in all and 15 unassisted.

Derick Roberson has forced two fumbles and Kai Nacua has two picks for the Stallions.

Last week Birmingham battled through a long weather delay, two fumbles and four sacks, but was ultimately saved by new kicker Ramiz Ahmed’s four field goals. His last from 46 yards out was the game-winner. Holtz is proud of that win – and all of them – but knows his unbeaten team can take nothing for granted moving into week five.

“We’ve won four games,” he said. “But you could very easily see that was a two-point football game (last Saturday) and if the kick doesn’t go through and you lose, you know … you’re that close.

“So, we’ve just got to keep getting better.”

When starting a new job, some employees are broken in slowly. They’re given a chance to learn the ropes and get to know their co-workers before the heavy lifting begins.

Then’s there’s a guy like Ramiz Ahmed, who barely had a chance to get his Birmingham Stallions ID badge before he was put front row and center.

“In the NFL, you’re being flown in for a workout and you’ll compete with generally a couple of guys, usually,” Ahmed said on Wednesday. “And then if they have room and the stars align, and you kick well and put your best foot forward, then they’ll sign you up.

“But here (in the United Football League), they have to kind of get someone in quick, so they’ve got to be pretty sure about the guy. And so (the Stallions) called me, which I’m very thankful for.”

The new kicker fit right in immediately – better than anyone could’ve expected. He booted four field goals in Birmingham’s 20-18 victory over DC last Saturday, including the game-winner in the contest’s 11^th hour.

“We had a lot of great individual efforts (against DC), obviously none more than our kicker,” Birmingham coach Skip Holtz said. “The job that he was able to do, especially as pretty much a rent-a-kicker for the week. Chris Blewitt had had an injury and the rules allow you to bring a kicker in for a week and then make a decision on if you want to keep them or not. And when we got back after the game, we found out Chris had a substantial injury that’s going to keep him out six to eight weeks.

“So, we went ahead and made the transition to make him our permanent kicker. It was just kind of a trial this weekend, but I thought he did excellent. Let’s hope he can continue to kick them as well as we go through the rest of the season.”

Ahmed’s kicks covered 46, 32, 27 and 46 yards, the final one flipping an 18-17 deficit into a 20-18 edge with just :04 showing on the game clock.

While new to the Stallions, the 28-year-old Ahmed has been sidewinding footballs for quite a while.

The Las Vegas native transitioned from association football to American football during his sophomore season at Bishop Gorman High School, and wound up kicking again at the University of Nevada-Reno in 2017, walking on to the football team and used mostly for kickoff duty.

“I didn’t get to kick too many field goals,” Ahmed said. “They had a three year-starter and their special teams coordinator, who I’m good buddies with now, he was like, ‘Listen, we’ve got a three-year starter who’s been solid for us, so field goal kicking isn’t open.’ They really looked at me for kickoffs, and they started me in the first game that I was eligible for at kickoffs and and it was cool. I wish I could have kicked field goals, but that first year I was a little naive.”

He did finally get his chance, and although he says there are some kicks “I wish I had back,” he caught the eye of NFL scouts.

Ahmed competed for the placekicker job with the Chicago Bears in 2020, but failed to make the active roster.

Two years later he was with the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL and nailed a 61-yard field goal – the longest in league history.

He then moved on to the Green Bay Packers and saw some action as a kickoff specialist, but was released in January, 2023.

Ahmed was out of pro football for 15 months before landing in Birmingham.

“I got injured at the end of my stint with the Packers,” he said. “And so, when I was released, I just had one focus in mind and that was to get healthy and get myself kicking back at the level that I know I can kick at. And so whether or not I get an opportunity again, or if my career’s done … I just didn’t feel that I needed to think about that. I just kind of put it on the backburner.

“I was mainly focused on just getting healthy.”

He did just that, and then the UFL came calling.

“(Birmingham special teams coach) Chris Boniol, who I have great respect for, and (Stallions GM) Zach Potter got together with a number of players,” Holtz explained. “There were kickers that we felt had the talent and abilities to do it, and then we started looking at players to see who was interested in doing it and who was available to do it.

“At that point, you’ve got to find availability and you’ve got to find the guy that you really feel has the talent to do it. And I know that they were really excited about Ramiz, and I think he came in and did an absolutely fantastic job.”

Ahmed’s next chance to impress his new employers comes on Saturday night at Rice Stadium when the Stallions (4-0) play the Houston Roughnecks (1-3) at 6 p.m. CDT on FOX.

“When I got picked up by the Packers, it was a similar situation,” Ahmed said. “I was picked up and our game was, I think, on either Friday or Saturday, and so I had two kicking sessions very much like when I got picked up by the Stallions and next thing you know, I’m kicking in the game.

“You’ve just got to go out and perform. I think it’s just something that you’ve got to be ready for.”