May 2024 - Page 4 of 8 - Adamsonmedia.com

Stallions try to stay perfect

The Birmingham Stallions (7-0) have not only locked up a playoff berth in the inaugural season of the United Football League, they already know who and when they’ll play in the USFL Conference championship – the Michigan Panthers at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 8.

Birmingham is coming off a 30-26 victory over St. Louis in what was, to date, the circuit’s marquee game.

**Scott Adamson writes stuff. Follow him on Threads @sladamson1960 and Adamsonmedia on Facebook.**

The Houston Roughnecks (1-6), on the other hand, are going nowhere after Week 10 of the regular season wraps up.

Making matters worse, they were tantalizingly close to a major upset of San Antonio last weekend – leading 12-3 with 12:36 to play – only to fall 15-12 on a walk-off field goal.

Yet, while it would be easy to dismiss Saturday’s game between Birmingham and Houston at Protective Stadium as largely meaningless, it most certainly isn’t.

Not only are the Stallions seeking a perfect season (and their 15^th consecutive victory dating back to 2023), a win – coupled with a Michigan loss to Memphis – would secure a host spot in the conference title game. And, of course, both teams want to give their players more chances to get looks from the NFL.

“We have to get ready to do it all over again Saturday against what I think is a really good Houston football team,” Birmingham coach Skip Holtz said. “I know everybody wants to look at their record at 1-6, but when you look at it, especially the last three weeks, they’ve played San Antonio, who’s one of the better teams in the XFL Conference and tied for the first; they’ve played St. Louis, and actually gave up less points to them than we did, giving up 22; and they’ve played Arlington, who has one of the top offenses; and they played us.

“They’ve had four quality opponents over the last few weeks.”

The Stallions’ 32-9 win over the Roughnecks in Houston on April 27 was the worst loss of the season for Curtis Johnson’s team, which has been formidable on defense for much of the season.

They lead the UFL in both interception returns (with five for 176 yards, including a pick-six), and tackles for loss (40).

Offensive woes have plagued them from the start, however.

“Our defense has been outstanding,” Johnson said. “But we have too many unforced errors, especially on the offensive line, and when we get in the red zone, we’ve got to score touchdowns.”

Houston has played three quarterbacks this spring (Reid Sinnett, Jarrett Guarantano and Nolan Henderson) but they have yet to find consistency moving the ball through the air or on the ground. Sinnett will get the start on Saturday with Henderson backing him up.

Justin Hall is the Roughnecks’ top receiver with 352 yards and a touchdown, while T.J. Pledger IV has rushed for 208 yards and caught 15 passes for 91 more.

Pulling off an upset of the league’s only unbeaten team will be a tall order.

Birmingham’s Adrian Martinez has gone from a part-time starter at quarterback to an MVP candidate, leading the league in rushing yards and quickly climbing up the ladder in passing stats. He is second in the UFL in total offense with 1,589 yards.

And while Martinez tops the charts churning out yards on the ground, Ricky Person Jr. leads the way in rushing touchdowns with six.

“I know last year people liked to say I’m just a downhill runner, but I feel like I’m able to showcase my abilities in Skip’s offense,” Person said. “I want my quarterbacks to know they can throw to me out in space and I can make people miss, and catch the ball out of the backfield. But I can also run … I take a lot of pride in that.”

Birmingham is the only UFL club to have eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in rushing with 1,017 (145.3 yards per game).

The receiving corps also continues to be a strong suit of the two-time defending USFL champions, as the Stallions lead in yards per reception (14.3) and are second in most aerial TDs with 12.

Deon Cain has racked up 371 receiving yards and scored twice, with Jace Sternberger contributing 261 yards and two scores.

Holtz’s crew is No. 1 in total offense (2,652 yards), all-purpose yards (3,623) and scoring (201 points).

Birmingham has the best rushing defense in the UFL, allowing only two TDs and 376 yards down low. The unit is also first in the takeaway department with 13, while Carlos Davis continues to rule the sack brigade with six – all of them solo.

“It’s going to be a great challenge for us this week,” Holtz said. “We just have to put yesterday behind us, and tomorrow’s not here yet. We’ve got to focus on today and what we’ve got to do to get better as a football team so we’re playing our best ball at the end of the year when we get into the playoffs.”

Saturday’s game is set for 7 p.m. with TV coverage provided by ESPN2. The contest can be heard on ESPN XTra on SiriusXM.

The Park

Diablo stood up on the metal surgery table, shook his head vigorously, and let out a quick snort.

The humans he lived with were gone. So was the veterinarian in the white coat, as well as the young tech wearing pink scrubs.

There was no equipment in the exam room, either, although he could still see the utility sink and two gray chairs situated against the light blue walls.

Something there that wasn’t before, however, was a Golden Retriever. She stood in front of the closed door, looking straight at him as her fluffy tail swept from side to side.

In life, Diablo would’ve bared his teeth and barked – the fawn-colored fur on his back rising to make him look like a tiny Stegosaurus.

In death, though, there seemed no reason for the Chihuahua to go to all that trouble.

“Who are you?” Diablo asked, his head tilting to the left.

“I’m Orla,” said the retriever. “I figure you might have some questions and I’m here to answer them.”

Diablo sat down and yawned.

“Well, yes,” he said. “First off, what happened to my humans? The last thing I remember one of them was holding me and kissing me on the head – she had a runny nose – and the other was red-faced and wet-eyed. I’ve never seen ‘em like that before.”

Orla wandered over to the table and put her paws up on the side.

“That’s what they do,” she said. “Remember how sad you’d get when you’d see them leave the house? That’s how they felt when you left to come here, only worse.”

Diablo wasn’t sure where “here” was.

“So, when you die, you spend eternity in a vet’s office?” he said. “I gotta tell ya, Orla, that sucks.”

Orla – who had been smiling the whole time, smiled even wider.

“Oh, no, we’re leaving here soon,” she said. “You’re still transitioning right now. We’ll be on our way to a much better place before you know it.”

“Is it the Rainbow Bridge?” Diablo asked, excitedly. “I’ve always heard the Rainbow Bridge was the place where we go.”

“Well, sorta,” Orla said. “The ‘Rainbow Bridge’ is a poem written by Edna Clyne-Rekhy. After her dog Major died in 1959, she wanted to remember him so she wrote that. You’ll meet Major later on … he’s a very good dog. Anyway, where we’re going is just called ‘The Park’ – at least that’s what I’ve always called it.”

Diablo wagged his tail for the first time since he died.

“I’ll be straight with you, Orla … I wasn’t sure I’d make it,” he said. “The humans had a cat I used to mess with a lot – even attacked him a time or two while he was eating.

“Speaking of which … I bit the male human a few times, too. Not sure why. I was sorta playing, but he just seemed bitable for some reason. And don’t get me started on Bonzo, the Jack Russell that lives down the road. I hated that bastard … spent a whole summer trying to figure out how I could attack him in his sleep. I was afraid those thoughts and deeds might keep me out.”

Suddenly, Diablo found himself standing in deep green grass next to Orla. The exam room was gone, replaced by blue skies and open spaces.

“No dogs are ever kept out,” Orla declared.

“Surely Cujo was,” Diablo said.

“Well, that was just the name of a movie dog,” Orla explained. “He was played by several different St. Bernards, and all of them are in The Park. But even if Cujo had been real, he’d have still made it. No dog is truly bad, they just get corrupted by bad humans.”

As Diablo looked across the way, he could see canines of all shapes and sizes – as well as other animals, including cats.

“Kinda surprised cats and dogs all go to the same place,” Diablo said, eying a Norwegian Forest cat frolicking with a miniature dachshund.

“Well, not all of them,” Orla explained. “Some cats go to a place called ‘The Box,’ which is basically just that – a giant cardboard box. And a few of them go in together and buy condos and turn them into palaces. Not sure where they get money. Anyway, cats tend to make their own rules and that can sometimes make their afterlife a bit complicated. They’re gonna do what they’re gonna do.”

Diablo laid his ears back and ran some zoomies, buzzing a pair of tabbies who seemed more amused than bothered by his antics.

He then rolled over on his back, scratching it furiously against the ground, and popped back up on his feet.

“So,” he mused, “I get to do this forever?”

Orla nodded.

“Yep,” she said. “You can run, eat and sleep as much as you want to. This is your reward.”

Diablo sighed.

“That’s great and all,” he said. “But I miss the humans. They loved me and I loved them – even that guy I bit. And I wish I could tell them I’m not mad about that last trip to the vet … I was in a lot of pain, and it was time for me to go.

“Kinda bummed I’ll never see ‘em again.”

Orla’s brown eyes twinkled.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “You’ll see them again.”

Orla pointed to a spot under a willow tree where a German Shepherd was smothering its human with kisses.

“Yay!” Diablo shrieked. “So, people get to come to The Park, too?”

Orla gave Diablo a quick nuzzle to the side of the face.

“They do,” she said. “But only the good ones.”

A study in professionalism

**Birmingham QB** **Adrian Martinez (9) leads the Stallions against the Battlehawks last Saturday at Protective Stadium.** (photo courtesy of RODTEE MEDIA)

It’s easy to think of Birmingham’s Adrian Martinez as a “running” quarterback. After all, the Stallions signal caller leads the United Football League in rushing yards with 387 – and averages 10.2 yards per tote.

Then again, if you ignore his passing, you’re ignoring one of his greatest strengths.

A stat line of 138-83-1 for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns is even more impressive considering he has rotated starting duties with Matt Corral this season.

But regardless of what he can do with his arm and legs, it’s what’s between his ears that makes it all possible. And in helping Birmingham roll to a 7-0 record, he’s demonstrated that his head is always in the game.

“Professionalism is the word that comes to mind,” Stallions coach Skip Holtz said of Martinez. “He’s five minutes early for meetings. He’s got his notebook and he’s got a pen in hand and he’s taking notes. He watches film and he’s asking the questions like, ‘Coach, when that guy goes here do we want to go there?’ I mean, he is a student of the game.

“He’s a total professional. He’s not a roller coaster guy. He doesn’t just ride the highs and hit the lows. He is very steady and consistent in his performance each and every week.”

Last Saturday’s 30-26 victory over St. Louis was a prime example.

He lit up the Battlehawks defense for 230 yards and three touchdowns through the air, and ran for a game-high 60 yards.

But when St. Louis moved ahead 20-23, he wasted no time getting the lead back. Martinez hit Kevin Austin Jr. on a 40-yard TD strike and connected with Jace Sternberger on a 1-point conversion to register the final points of the contest.

It was the second game in a row Martinez had utilized 10 different receivers.

“We have a very talented roster and a lot of guys who – at any given moment – can take the top off of the defense, whether they’re tight ends or outside guys,” Martinez said. “I think all of them have shown that spurt of being able to do that.

“I don’t want to try and force the ball, it’s like, ‘Hey, let’s just read this, let’s stay within the offense.’ Any of these guys can win their routes, whether it’s press man or zone coverage. I have a lot of confidence that those guys will do what they need to do.”

When talking stats, he’s always quick to credit the guys on the money end of this throws.

“I think that really speaks to the job that (Mike Jones) has done as the receivers coach, and also the talent we have in that room,” he said. “I think everyone’s capable of having big games, and as I’ve gotten more comfortable, and as everyone else has gotten more comfortable, in this offense, we’ve been able to share the ball. I think all those guys deserve a chance to show what they can do. And they can all do it well. I mean, they have the talent, so it’s just my job to get it to the open guy.”

It helps, too, that the entire roster has an “all-for-one” attitude.

“We run an efficient team and an efficient offense and (Holtz) does a great job with that,” Martinez said. “And especially in-game, we’re able to communicate at a very high level and make adjustments on the field and he’s not afraid to do it. Again, I think that just speaks to Skip and the quality coach that he is.”

Holtz adds that Martinez stays focused throughout the week as well as in games.

“He gets into a routine and he follows it, which I, as a coach, love, because I’m a routine guy,” Holtz said. “Like, we do this on Tuesdays and this on Wednesdays and this on Thursdays … he’s a routine player and a student of the game. And he’s just been very consistent. He’s protecting the football, he’s reading defenses, he’s making good decisions.”

Birmingham doesn’t release its depth chart until Thursday of game week, and Holtz has made it clear since the 2024 UFL campaign began that he wanted to utilize both Martinez and Corral.

And he has, although Martinez’s play has earned No. 9 the start for three consecutive weeks.

“Matt and I are going to continue to compete and I think any given week, it could be either one of us,” Martinez said. “So, for me, that’s been my mindset. And that’s part of being competitive and having two talented guys who want to get to the NFL.”

Birmingham – already playoff bound – plays its penultimate regular season home game Saturday night against the Houston Roughnecks.

The game is set for 7 o’clock and will be televised on ESPN2.