Category: Alternative Football

Round two of the 2023 Birmingham-Houston series is set for Sunday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis. And if you like high-stakes regular season clashes, this one most certainly fits the bill.

The Stallions enter the contest atop the South Division with 6-2 record, while the Gamblers stand at 5-3.

But Houston defeated Birmingham 27-20 in Week 5, so a sweep by Curtis Johnson’s team means the Gamblers will overtake Skip Holtz’s club.

“Right now, we’re thinking about going 1-0, and I’m focused on getting revenge against Houston,” Birmingham tight end Jace Sternberger said.

If that happens and the Stallions improve to 7-2, they secure a playoff spot and move a step closer to a division crown. A positive result for Birmingham would leave Houston on the outside looking in for a postseason berth, pending the fortunes of the Memphis Showboats (5-3) and New Orleans Breakers (5-3), who meet today in Memphis.

Currently, all four teams have 2-2 divisional records.

Translation?

The South Division is a cluster.

“We’re sitting here at 6-2, and we have a chance to clinch a playoff berth, which is ultimately what this is all about,” Stallions coach Skip Holtz said. “We started eight weeks ago and knew there were four teams in the South who’d be fighting for two spots.

“There’s an awful lot riding on this. This is the team that beat us the first time around, and we feel like from a tiebreaker standpoint and everything else this is a really big game for us.”

Once again running the offensive show for Birmingham is quarterback Alex McGough, who continues to lead the USFL in passing touchdowns (16) and points (120). He’s completed 68 percent of his passes for 1,614 yards, and has rushed for 337 yards and four TDs.

“I just think of it as another game,” McGough said of tomorrow’s showdown. “Coach went over the standings and what we need to do, but every week we just have the 1-0 mentality, and I think if we try to get away from that, it’s a distraction.

“I just think we’ve got to stick to the plan and stick to what got us here in the first place.”

Sternberger leads the receiving corps in point production with five touchdowns, while Davion Davis has amassed 437 yards catching the ball.

C.J. Marable, who has turned into a dual-threat coming out of the backfield, has 437 ground yards (4.6 yards per carry) and 194 receiving yards. His 891 all-purpose yards ranks second on the USFL charts.

Nate Holley and Christian McFarland each have 27 solo tackles to set the standard for Birmingham’s defense.

And although the team has had more than its share of injuries, good fortune has managed to arise from misfortune.

“With injury comes an opportunity,” Holtz said. “I hate injuries, and we do everything we can to try to prevent them, but at the beginning of the season with the number of people that went out, a lot of guys have stepped up and new faces have emerged.

“You look at (receivers) Davion Davis and Deon Cain, and the offensive line with Cohl Cabral and with (Matt) Kaskey and Derwin (Gray) and (Jahmir) Johnson and what some of these guys are doing … I just think there are a lot of positives that have come out of this. A lot of people have played key roles to make us successful to this point.”

Houston is coming off a 20-19 victory over the Pittsburgh Maulers in Canton, another tight game in what has been a highly competitive season across the board.

“This is a good football league,” Johnson said. “They’re outstanding coaches. Just look who all our coaches are. (Almost) all these coaches have NFL experience, that’s why this game is played like the NFL.”

Mark Thompson has the most rushing touchdowns in the USFL with 13, scoring two on Saturday in a victory that saw him net 98 yards on 14 carries. His 514 yards are second only to Wes Hills of New Orleans, who has 613.

QB Kenji Bahar was 11-20-0 passing for 146 yards and a touchdown, and has thrown for 1,326 yards through eight games. His top target is Joe Walker, with 464 receiving yards.

Defensively, the Gamblers allowed 326 yards of total offense and 22 first downs, but held the Maulers to just three of nine third down conversions and allowed only one red zone score out of three opportunities.

Defensive end Isaiah Chambers has 11 tackles for loss – tops in the league.

“I think the players are really excited about the opportunity to play,” Holtz said. “We’re excited to go on the road and travel, but if we can get that magic number seven and get into the playoffs, that’s ultimately what we’re trying to do.”

PLAYER STATUS (via Stallions Twitter)

Free Agent Signing: RB Benny LeMay, DT Keyshon Camp.

Transferred Player to Active Roster: CB Matt Hankins, OT Derwin Gray, DE Jordan Thompson.

Transferred Player to Inactive Roster: RB Benny LeMay, DT Keyshon Camp, CB Bryan Mills, OG Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms.

Suspended list: DE Joe Jackson.

Game status: OL Derwin Gray: Probable (Illness), DE Joe Jackson: Out (Infection). S Christian McFarland: Probable (R Hamstring, R Shoulder, L Thumb), DB JoJo Tillery: Probable (L Knee), RB Ricky Person Jr.: Probable (L Hip), WR Deon Cain: Probable (L Hamstring), RB CJ Marable: Probable (R Torso), LB Quentin Poling: Probable (R Achilles), S Tyree Robinson: Probable (R Thumb/R Wrist), WR Davion Davis: Probable (L Ankle), OL Matt Kaskey: Full Go (R Thumb), DL Jordan Thompson: Full Go (L Hamstring).

PLAYER STATUS (via Gamblers Twitter)

Transferred Player to Active Roster: OC Braylon Jones, DE Reggie Walker, OLB Chris Garrett, DT Josh Avery.

Transferred Player to Inactive Roster: CB Malcolm Washington, DE Guy Thomas, OG Jair Joseph.

Released: DE Eli Howard.Game status: LB Reggie Walker: Questionable (L Ribs), TE Rodell Rahmaan: Probable (R Hamstring), DT Jeffery Johnson: Out (L Hand), OL Jordan Steckler: Questionable (L Hamstring), DB Andrew Soroh: Probable (Head), OL Braylon Jones: Full Go (L Ankle), TE Brandon Barnes: Full Go (L Hand), OL Brandon Hitner: Full Go (L Shoulder), OL Na’Ty Rodgers: Full Go (R Shoulder), LB Ronheen Bingham: Full Go (R Hamstring).

Notes and quotes from Birmingham’s wild 27-24 victory over Philadelphia today at Protective Stadium …

HOW THEY SCORED

Philadelphia (4-4) sliced through the Birmingham (6-2) defense on the game’s opening drive, going 59 yards in nine plays and hitting paydirt when Case Cookus found Ryan Izzo on a one-yard scoring pass at 10:14 of the opening frame.

Luis Aguilar kicked the PAT, making it 7-0.

The Stallions answered back with an 11 play, 72-yard march. The highlight was Alex McGough scrambling out of trouble and throwing back to the middle of the field, connecting with Davion Davis on a 17-yard TD strike at 4:05 of the first.

Brandon Aubrey kicked the extra point to even things up at 7-all.

McGough completed six passes for 66 yards during the series.

Philly took the lead again just 47 seconds before the close of the first half.

A McGough fumble at his own 46 with 2:08 left in the second put the Stars in business, and they traveled 47 yards in five plays. Cookus threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Corey Coleman for six, and Aguilar’s point after put the tally at 14-7.

Birmingham received to start the second half, and the kickoff went out of bounds, by rule placing the ball at midfield.

The home team got as close as the visitor 12, but had to settle for a 30-yard Aubrey field goal at the 10:54 mark. That trimmed the deficit to 14-10.

After their defense made a stop, the Stallions offense got busy moving the markers. However, C.J. Marable fumbled at the Stars four, and Joel Dublanko’s recovery ended the threat.

But Birmingham wouldn’t be deterred, and after another stop the offense heated up. A McGough to Davis pass covering 71 yards (and accounting for the second longest pass play in the league this year) put the ball at the 10.

On a third down play from the same spot, McGough fired a rocket to Jace Sternberger for a TD pass at 14:55 of the fourth.

The kick was good, and the nine play, 83-yard trek ended with a 17-14 Stallions advantage.

The Stars, however, didn’t fold.

Their offense also found a spark, and they got all the way down to the seven. But the Birmingham resistance stiffened from there, holding Philly to a 25-yard field goal at 7:25 that tied the score at 17-17.

Back came the Stallions.

A 29-yard McGough to Sternberger connection put the hosts in scoring range, and Aubrey did the honors, drilling a 41-yard field goal 4:35 from the end of regulation to make it 20-17.

A good kickoff return resulted in Philadelphia scrimmaging at its own 48 at the fourth’s 4:28 juncture.

A 28-yard pass from Cookus to Devin Gray put the ball at the 24, and then a 24-yard toss to Gray made it first and goal at the seven.

From there Cookus rolled out and found Dexter Williams for a score at 3:05 of the fourth.

After three plays and 52 yards, the kick put the Stars ahead, 24-20.

That gave the Stallions time for a potential game-winning junket, and they delivered the goods.

After starting at their 35, they advanced to the Philly 37 after three plays (and at the two-minute warning).

With 39 seconds left, a 23-yard pass to Sternberger placed the ball at the 12, first-and-10.

A reception by Deon Cain moved the ball to the seven with :32 on the game clock.

One play later, McGough threw seven-yard TD pass to La’Michael Pettway – just his second catch of the game – with 28 seconds to play.

Aubrey kicked the lead to 27-24, putting the finishing touches on a memorable nine play, 65-yard march.

The Stars had less than half a minute to win or tie, and a last gasp pass was intercepted by Nate Brooks to seal the deal.

BIRMINGHAM COACH SKIP HOLTZ SAID …

“What a great football game between two teams that you knew were going to compete and both wanting to win. Just really a lot of fun to be part of it and I’m proud of our team, proud of how they competed, proud of the way they hung in there. It was a total team win. It’s just a joy for me to have the opportunity to watch them. I’m just calling the plays … these guys go execute. They were fun to watch.”

PHILADELPHIA COACH BART ANDRUS SAID …

“That was a heck of a game. We fell short and scored too soon at the end. Should’ve taken more clock there, but you take what you can get and we didn’t want to hold back. These are two good football teams. They’ve got good players and they play together. If we can win a couple more, we may see them again.”

STANDOUT STATS

McGough was 24-35-0 passing for 333 yards and three touchdowns, and also scrambled for 25 yards.

“I’m giving everything I’ve got to the guys, and I just appreciate everybody else giving me everything they have,” McGough said. “And I think that’s the only way you win – the only way you succeed.”

Davis had four catches for 120 yards and a TD.

Willie Yarbary was in on six tackles and recorded a sack.

Cookus was 20-32-1 for 265 yards and three scores, with Coleman catching four balls totaling 107 yards and a TD,

Joey Alfieri had seven solo tackles and was in on three more for Philly.

TODAY IN HISTORY

On this day in 1974 the Birmingham Americans of the World Football League announced they had signed Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro defensive end L.C. Greenwood to a “futures” contract. Greenwood was to play out his option with the Steelers in 1974 and join the WFL team for the 1975 season. (Spoiler alert: he did not).

On June 3, 1984, the Birmingham Stallions lost to the Arizona Wranglers, 38-28, in front of 32,500 fans at Legion Field. Joe Cribbs, who rejoined the team after being away for 17 days due to a contract dispute, rushed for 110 yards on 16 carries. That gave him a USFL-best 1,280 rushing yards.

On June 3, 1985, the Stallions nipped the Houston Gamblers, 29-27, before 13,202 fans at the Astrodome. Birmingham QB Cliff Stoudt threw for 133 yards and rushed for 50 more and a touchdown to help the Stallions improve to 11-4 and clinch a playoff spot.

NEXT UP

The Stallions finish their regular season with a two-game set at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis. First up is a showdown against the Houston Gamblers on Sunday, June 11, at 1 p.m. on NBC/Peacock.

If you’re looking for a football adage that possesses both rhyme and reason, here’s one of my faves: “It’s not about the Xs and the Os, but the Jimmys and the Joes.”

It’s often used in the context of college recruiting, but the message goes far beyond that. Ultimately, you can draw up the best plays in the world but if the talent to execute them isn’t there, it won’t make much difference.

Every coach realizes this, and that’s why those in the United States Football League work hand-in-hand with their general managers to sign the best players available.

Take a look at how tight the standings are and you can see that they’ve all done a creditable job. Today’s game between the Birmingham Stallions and Philadelphia Stars (which started with handshakes and hugs before the coin toss and segued to a brief shoving match on the opening kickoff) was a perfect example. It featured a battle of division leaders, yet when Week Seven began last Saturday, Birmingham (6-2) was third in the South.

And before reeling off three consecutive victories, Philly (4-4) was in last place in the North.

“Overall, the talent in the league has really improved, and I say that because when we drafted our rosters last year, everybody drafted 50 players, so that’s 400 players in one year that got put into this league,” Stallions coach Skip Holtz said following practice earlier in the week. “But I think the free agents and players that were available this year are better than the talent in the second half of the draft last year. So, you’ve seen a lot of turnover in some of these teams with the lower part of their rosters, and I think it’s because there’s a lot more talent in this league. I think everybody’s capable of winning each and every week, and every game is gonna be a battle.

“Somebody told me that unlike college, there are no 1-AA (Football Championship Subdivision) opponents in the USFL. Anybody can beat anybody on a given day.”

True enough.

Beyond that, though, a common thread among every single player who suits up for one of the eight teams is their love of the game.

Sure, it’s a business, but you can tell there’s a real joy in what they do.

Holtz certainly sees it.

“You know, you watch them after practice and everybody’s dapping each other up and saying, ‘Nice work today,’ and we’re looking at them all hanging around,” Holtz said. “Practice is over and they’re all just sitting around talking … they enjoy being around each other. They’re a great group of guys with great chemistry and that’s a real testament to the quality and character of the players that we have on this roster that love the game and love to play.

“They want to win – they’re  competitive players – but that’s part of what’s made it so much fun to be part of.”

What’s true with the Stallions is true across all eight teams and all four hubs.

“When you look at the number of players in the USFL that got their opportunities in the NFL last year, there were over 50 players,” Holtz said. “And that’s why so many of these guys are here. They want their opportunities, they want to move up, but they want to play some more over here for the love of the game.

“Some are here because they want more film, but the players that are here, they’re appreciative, they’re grateful. They want an opportunity to get on the field.”

It’s a new and different opportunity for coaches, as well. Holtz said when he decided to work in the USFL, it was because he and his wife wanted an “adventure.”

“I had a long conversation with Rick Neuheisel before I accepted this job, and I know he had been in a spring league earlier (head coach of the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football in 2019),” Holtz said. “I called him and asked him about it. He said the biggest thing is to enjoy the relationship with the players, because that’s really what it’s all about.”

As a football fan, I appreciate the entertainment value of the USFL. But I also find myself cheering for various players, regardless of whether they play for the hometown Stallions or not.

“One thing about the USFL is we’re able to give (players) a platform to be viewed in a different light,” league president Daryl Johnston said. “And we try to come at it from a holistic approach … making good young men out of the players in our league, not just good football players.”

While Alex McGough spends a lot of post-practice time trying to make Holtz laugh (and succeeding), there’s nothing funny about his play. The dude is a boss whether loading up and throwing or tucking and running.

Today he threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns, and celebrated by giving Holtz a bear hug after his team’s thrilling 27-24 victory. He engineered a late drive that put the Stallions ahead to stay with 28 seconds remaining.

“I always say pressure is a privilege,” McGough said. “Like, most people don’t get the chance to go in in the fourth quarter and try to win the game. In professional football, this is a privilege. And I think you can either fall under it, or rise to it.”

Stars quarterback Case Cookus was fantastic, also throwing for three touchdowns and amassing 265 yards.

He’s been on five NFL practice squads and one in the Canadian Football League, and continues to show why he deserves more chances.

“This league giving so many guys opportunities has been a blessing,” Cookus said. “I’m so thankful … you can go through the league and like every other guy has that unique, cool story about how they got here and how they love to play football.

“There’s some great people across the field. (Birmingham) is a very good team and they’re a bunch of great guys who are really competitive. I’m having a blast playing but, you know, winning would’ve made it more fun.”

If you don’t like New Jersey Generals running back Darius Victor – the first player in the modern USFL to amass more than 1,000 rushing yards – you don’t like people.

New Orleans Breakers quarterback Mcleod Bethel-Thompson is about as urbane as you can get while still wearing shoulder pads.

And as much fun as it is to watch Pittsburgh Maulers D-lineman Boogie Roberts make a big-man play, seeing him interview teammates on the sidelines is highly entertaining as well.

I could go on and on listing examples from across the league, because you’ll find plenty of guys worthy of rooting for – even if they were completely unfamiliar to you before you saw them play in the USFL.

The vast majority, of course, want an NFL roster spot. Right now, though, they want to grow where they’re planted.

Once you follow a season and learn the players’ personalities (as well as their stories), you find yourself torn. Selfishly, you want to see them back in a familiar uniform when a new season starts.

But if you’re really, truly a fan of theirs, you want them to play at the highest level.

It’s not about the Xs and the Os, but the Jimmys and the Joes – and how far they can go.