Category: Alternative Football

Much was made about the season-opening clash between the USFL champion Birmingham Stallions and XFL title-holder Arlington Renegades. And certainly, it was a good way to kick off the United Football League and showcase the merger that made it possible.

But Birmingham’s 27-14 victory on March 30 is old news now.

Saturday’s matchup between the USFL Conference-leading Stallions (6-0) and top XFL Conference club St. Louis Battlehawks (5-1) is spring football’s game of year – at least until the playoffs begin.

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

Birmingham – winners of 13 consecutive games dating back to the 2023 USFL campaign – is coming off a playoff-clinching 39-21 victory at Memphis, while St. Louis beat Houston, 22-8, for its fifth “W” in a row.

“The ultimate goal every week is to go out and win,” Stallions boss Skip Holtz said. “And it’s hard at any level, especially with the pressure on a professional level and the balance from a talent standpoint, so really proud of what the team was able to do and being 6-0.

“It makes this game even bigger. As I’ve told the team, every game you win means the next one gets bigger. That was something that I learned from my father. You’ve gotta keep winning. You’ve just gotta stay focused with where you are and make sure that you can put your best foot forward.”

It’s no surprise that the teams are at or near the top in most UFL offensive and defensive categories: St. Louis boasts the No. 1 offense and Birmingham’s defense is best in class heading into Week 7.

“I think Anthony Becht has done a great job with his football team,” Holtz said of his counterpart. “They were one of the best teams in the XFL last year from a record standpoint, and they’re one of the best teams this year. They’ve got a very well-known quarterback in A.J. McCarron, who the people in Alabama are very familiar with. They’ve got some weapons on the perimeter. I think when you look at offensive statistics, the two of us are in the top two in most of the offensive statistics, and they’re a big-play offense.

“They have some huge weapons and have got a really good running back. And you’ve got two of the best defenses in this league. I mean, it’s got all the makings to be a great game, not only record-wise but from a talent standpoint and statistical standpoint.”

Birmingham QB Adrian Martinez has gone 62-105-1 through the air for 971 yards and seven touchdowns. He also has 327 yards on the ground, the second-best rushing mark in the league. He’s slated to get his third consecutive start on Saturday.

Deon Cain leads the receiving corps with 21 catches for 342 yards and a TD, while Marlon Williams has 12 catches for 183 yards and three touchdowns. Jace Sternberger has scored twice while reeling in 12 passes for 236 yards.

Kevin Austin Jr. has also stepped up, and now has eight catches for 147 yards and a touchdown.

“Both Kevin and Marlon have been progressing,” Holtz said. “They’ve been getting better. They go to work every day and I keep using the blue-collar approach. Grab your hard hat, let’s go to work. Let’s get better today. You’re going to have your day, the ball is going to find you, we’ve just gotta keep getting better.”

Ricky Person Jr. and C.J. Marable have put up solid rushing numbers for Birmingham. Person has six touchdowns and 193 yards with Marable adding 191 yards and one trip to the end zone.

Linebacker Kyahva Tezino has 42 tackles (24 solo), nose tackle Carlos Davis boasts six sacks for 38 backward yards, and the defensive unit has six interceptions and seven forced fumbles.

“I see a lot of similarities in Birmingham and the way they play and their style and what Coach Skip Holtz says about his football team,” Becht said. “He has done a tremendous job in Birmingham since the time he’s been there. He has a great feel for his team. He’s 27-3, and those are aspiring numbers and things I’d love to get at as a coach. They continue to be the top-tier spring league football team in all phases.

“New season, new league, they’ve never played us and we’ve never played them, and it makes for a great matchup. It’s great for our league and great for our fans.”

McCarron is 135-199-2 for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Hakeem Butler has caught 31 of his passes for 478 yards and five touchdowns, and Marcell Ateman has added three TDs and 208 yards.

“Hakeem is a big body and does a good job finding holes,” Becht said. “He’s a mismatch problem and a size problem and they beat him up – a lot of holding – he’s got to fight through a lot but once he does, he’s difficult one-on-one.”

Jacob Saylors paces the ground attack with 242 yards and a pair of scores.

On defense, linebacker Willie Harvey has 41 total tackles and 22 individual tackles, while defensive back Qwynnterrio Cole has added 34 (16) and a pick.

The St. Louis bruise crew has six INTs and four forced fumbles through 24 quarters.

“They’re all big games and that’s not coach-speak, because we treat every game individually like it’s a championship game,” Becht said. “We don’t look past, we don’t look ahead, we live in the moment. Our biggest opponent every single week is us, the Battlehawks.”

Heading into Saturday’s United Football League spotlight game between the Birmingham Stallions and St. Louis Battlehawks, here are some numbers to consider – Skip Holtz 303, Anthony Becht 16.

Those figures reflect the number of times the men who’ll lead their teams into action have been on the sidelines wearing the hat of a head coach.

Holtz logged a 152-121 record during 17 years as a college boss. He joined the new United States Football League in 2022 and never looked back, going 21-3 and leading Birmingham to back-to-back championships. Four teams from the USFL, including the Stallions, were folded into the UFL. His 2024 Birmingham team stands at 6-0.

Becht, on the other hand, got his first head coaching gig last year when St. Louis was one of the flagship franchises of XFL 3.0. He led the ‘Hawks to a 7-3 record and has them sitting at 5-1 in the new spring pro football circuit.

While Becht has proved to be a quick study, it makes sense that his and Holtz’s paths never crossed until the eight UFL teams convened in Arlington, Texas, last February.

“No, we hadn’t been together a lot,” Holtz said. “I mean, I spent my time in college and he spent his time in the NFL, so we had a little different path to get here.”

While Holtz’s playing days ended following his senior season at Notre Dame in 1986, Becht went on to have a fine NFL career after graduating from West Virginia in 1999.

The tight end played 12 years for five different teams, making the All-Rookie Team while suiting up for the New York Jets in 2000.

He finished his pass-catching/blocking days with 188 receptions for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Becht’s whistle-and-clipboard career began in 2019 when he coached tight ends for the San Diego Fleet of the ill-fated Alliance of American Football, and then got his first shot at the top job last year with the Battlehawks.

“I was not on their radar,” Becht told Tampa’s FOX 13 in March. “But, be determined in what you want to do. Twelve years in the (NFL), five organizations, seven different head coaches with two firings in between. I learned a lot of good and bad from the coaches I’ve been around.” 

One coach he gets to be around now is Holtz.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Skip Holtz,” Becht said on Monday. “He’s 27-3, he’s the crème de la crème of spring leagues. If you’re a coach that cares and wants to be a winner, you want to emulate that record – you want to be as good as they’ve been the last three seasons.”

Holtz said he’s become quite familiar with Becht over the late winter and spring.

“Where I really got an opportunity to be around him was when we scrimmaged each other during the preseason,” Holtz said. “The UFL had slated everybody to scrimmage somebody, and we got matched together. So, I spent a lot of time with him on the phone and I’ve talked to him a lot during the course of the season. I have great respect for him and I think he does an unbelievable job from a coaching standpoint.”

If past is prologue, the first regular season matchup between their teams should be a dandy.

Both sides are capable of big plays – and stopping big plays – and appear to be evenly matched across the board. Birmingham has the UFL’s No.1-ranked defense while St. Louis’ offense is No.1.

It’s just Week 7, but it would hardly be surprising to see these squads meet again on June 16 in St. Louis – site of the inaugural UFL Championship Game.

But, first things first.

Becht says he never looks ahead, so he isn’t looking past Saturday.

“Consistency matters if you want to be a good coach,” he said. “You can’t be a good coach one year and then the next year lay an egg. If you want to excel in this profession, you’ve got to show consistency.

“They play sound, aggressive football, they’re good on both sides, special teams are clean, they don’t make a lot of mistakes, and their quarterbacks make plays.”

The clash is set for 3 p.m. on FOX.

The United Football League’s game of the year (to date) takes place on Saturday when the Birmingham Stallions (6-0) host the St. Louis Battlehawks (5-1) in a late afternoon matchup at Protective Stadium.

Yet, while there’s no mystery who’ll lead the visitors into battle – that’ll be former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback A.J. McCarron – the home team’s starter is TBA.

Adrian Martinez has started the last two games for the Stallions, but has been part of a rotation with Matt Corral. Getting the first snap in back-to-back games is a first for a Birmingham signal caller in 2024.

Whether Martinez goes three-for-three, well, that remains to be seen.

“You know, when you guys see that depth chart, it’s around the time we find out,” Martinez said earlier today. “We’ll compete each week, continue to get better, push each other to be better and when (Stallions coach Skip Holtz) makes that decision, he’ll make it.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a consistent timeline and sometimes those things change, so stay light on your feet.”

Martinez is the only player in the UFL to throw for over

300 yards in a game this season. He put up 334 against Memphis in Week 3 and in last Saturday’s rematch he lit up the Showboats for 368 yards and four TDs.

His passing stat line reads 62-105-1 for 971 yards and seven touchdowns.

He’s also the circuit’s second-leading rusher with 327 yards and a TD.

Corral has also acquitted himself well, going 36-62-2 for 494 yards and two touchdowns.

It’s a 1-2 QB punch any UFL club would love to have.

But aside from the competition, Martinez is simply enjoying playing the game.

“I’d say this is the most fun I’ve had and it’s part of what this league is about and something that I really wanted to challenge myself to do,” Martinez said. “You know, enjoy it. We don’t know if it’s gonna be my last time playing ball, so just have gratitude. Go out there and enjoy it, have fun.

“I mean, that’s what the game is about. We’re out here playing a child’s game, so just have fun with it.”

McCarron wouldn’t disagree, but he also knows his return to Alabama is a business trip. It’ll be the first time he’s played football in the Magic City since helping St. Paul’s win the Class 5A state championship game against Briarwood Christian, 14-13, on December 7, 2007 at Legion Field.

“Listen, it’s just another game and that’s all I want it to be,” McCarron said. “But Birmingham is a great city and I love to go there. I have a bunch of friends there and just about all of my doctors are based there, so I spend a lot of time there.

“I appreciate all the support and love, but I want to just stick to this normal routine and not do anything out of the ordinary.”

McCarron is 135-199-2 for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns. His 13 aerial scores are far and away a UFL best after six weeks – and a big reason St. Louis has won five consecutive games.

McCarron has spent time with six different NFL teams and is 113-179-3 for 1,192 yards and six touchdowns in big league action.

The 33-year-old is as known for his composure as he is his ability, and he credits that with his time playing under Nick Saban.

“Going into my first year starting, (Saban) was playing a ton of mind games that spring and really just messing with me,” McCarron explained. “I didn’t understand, being young, and it was pissing me off more than anything. And I remember him bringing me in his office and saying, ‘Listen, if you can handle the mind games that I put on you and the pressure that I put on you – whether it’s in practice, scrimmages, whatever, going out in front of 102,000 people will be nothing.’ And so that was one thing that always stuck with me.”

Martinez, 24, remembers watching McCarron during his college days.

“A.J., shoot, I grew up watching him play at Alabama,” he said. “I know he’s had a long career and I have a lot of respect for him. He’s won national championships and has a lot of accolades that you don’t bat an eye at.

“He’s a very good player.”

Saturday’s game is set for 3 pm. Saturday and will be televised on FOX.

And whether McCarron’s counterpart will be Martinez or Corral, the Battlehawks field general knows his team is in for a tussle.

“Birmingham’s a very well-coached team,” McCarron said. “They’re in the right spots, they do the right things. And then, just like all teams, if they mess up, you’ve got to make them pay. You’ve got to capitalize on those opportunities.

“It’s gonna be a good challenge for both teams, and we’re excited about the challenge.”