Category: Alternative Football

This time last year, the USFL might as well have been an acronym for Undefeated Stallions Football League.   

Birmingham, at 5-0, already had a two-game lead in the South Division. In fact, its only loss was a Week Nine hiccup against the Houston Gamblers, a low-stakes game against a last place team that was quickly forgotten as Skip Holtz’s club went on to win the crown.

Today’s contest between the Stallions and Gamblers at Protective Stadium was different. It had a playoff feel even though five weeks still remain in the regular season.

With New Orleans sitting atop the South as the league’s lone unbeaten team (the Breakers play the Memphis Showboats here on Sunday), the showdown was a battle for position.

Birmingham started the day at 3-1, and a win would translate into a two-game cushion over Houston and firm control of second place in the division.

A Gamblers “W” meant they would be tied with the Stallions at 3-2, and hold a tiebreaker advantage for second place (with a rematch set for June 11 in Memphis).

By the time a scorching afternoon had given way to a muggy early evening, the result was a best-case scenario for Houston.

A 27-20 victory didn’t wrap up a postseason berth for Curtis Johnson’s team, of course, but it was a positive step in the right direction.

“We knew that this was more of a must-win for us than it probably was for them,” Johnson said. “They’re the champions, and they played like it.”

Both teams were missing some key components in what was – to date – the biggest game of 2023 for each. I know, I know … injuries aren’t an excuse, but they are a reality.

The biggest loss for Houston was starting quarterback Kenji Bahar, who missed the game due to an ankle injury and took 835 yards and seven passing touchdowns with him.

The home team has dealt with a litany of wounds and ailments week in and week out. Scooby Wright – the emotional leader of the defense – wasn’t in the lineup today, nor was all-purpose yards leader Deon Cain, who has already been worth two touchdowns on special teams.

“Some of our injuries were supposed to be two to four weeks, and here we are at five,” Holtz said. “I’m hopeful we’ll get a couple back … I’m hoping (safety) Jojo Tillery and (defensive end) Joe Jackson will be back. Unfortunately, four or five of the guys have pretty close to season-ending injuries.”

The expression “next man up” should probably be amended to “next men up.”

Yet, it’s all part of the game, and the name of the game is to win.

So, coaches and players have to figure out a way.

The Gamblers did that today, with a national TV audience and a few thousand fans in the stands looking on.

Terry Wilson stepped in admirably in place of Bahar, assisting Mark Thompson in a ground game that racked up 138 yards but showing he could throw when needed, registering a tidy 117 aerial yards with nearly half coming on a 50-yard pass to Anthony Ratliff-Williams.

“It really starts with the coaches,” Wilson said. “They believed in me and gave me the opportunity to go out there. It started with a phenomenal week of practice. We knew it would be hot when we got down here but we wanted to be ready for anything, and we knew we’d play hard and it was going to be a battle. I thought we brought it, and got the ‘W’.”

Stallions QB Alex McGough, however, took another step toward ironman status with a gutsy performance that netted 209 passing yards, 71 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

“That quarterback is something special,” Johnson said. “I come from the NFL, and I’d take him right now. He’s outstanding.”

Tomorrow, Houston can look at this game as a signature win, their third in a row and a result that makes them the hottest team in the USFL not named the Breakers.

Birmingham will bemoan being hit with 10 penalties for 106 yards while the Gamblers never saw a yellow flag over 60 minutes.

“That’s part of the frustration,” Holtz said. “The penalties were 10 to nothing. It was hard. We couldn’t get anything going and it seems like anytime we did, we’d get a penalty.”

Come Monday, however, it’ll be back to business for both.

And every game going forward will seem like a playoff for two teams with the same record and the same goal.

“I’m proud of our team,” Holtz said. “I’m proud of the way they continue to compete. Proud of the way they fought back, and they never give up.”

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.

“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)

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.