There’s still some heavy lifting to be done once the regular season ends, but the Birmingham Stallions are able to exhale in Week 10.
While a tight race in the United States Football League South Division is coming down to the wire, Birmingham already knows it’s playoff-bound regardless of what happens this weekend.
And what happens for the Stallions (7-2) is a rematch with the Memphis Showboats (5-4), who still technically have a shot at earning a postseason berth.
Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. CDT Saturday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium with FOX providing TV coverage.
But just because the defending USFL champions have already punched their playoff ticket thanks to a 38-15 drubbing of Houston in Week 9, it doesn’t mean they’re overlooking the next team on the schedule.
“I know a lot of people say this game doesn’t mean anything, but you wouldn’t know it by the practices we’ve had this week,” Stallions coach Skip Holtz said. “We’ve had a great week of practice, and I think this game is an opportunity for us to roll into the playoffs on a hot note. Any time we put the ball on the tee, we want to win.”
As for resting starters, that’s been a non-issue.
“I said to the players anyone that wants to sit, come see me,” Holtz said. “If this is something you need mentally, physically or emotionally before the playoffs, come see me. I haven’t had a single player come see me.”
Birmingham quarterback Alex McGough makes his case for MVP week after week, and currently leads the USFL with 18 passing touchdowns and 138 points. He’s thrown for 1,822 yards and also has five rushing TDs.
His roommate – tight end Jace Sternberger – paces the league in receiving touchdowns with six, and Davion Davis has the most Stallions receiving yards with 461.
C.J. Marable is tops in the circuit in all-purpose yards with 1,019 – 469 of them coming on the ground.
As a team, Birmingham averages a USFL-best 324.7 yards per game as well as a 50 percent third down conversion rate.
“We have a strong O-line, I think that’s what sets things off,” McGough said. “We can run, we can pass-block, we can do a lot of things. When they give me a few seconds back there, I can usually find someone to go to because we have so many good receivers.”
Defensively, the Stallions are led by safety Christian McFarland’s 49 tackles, while tackle Willie Yarbary has recorded 3.5 sacks. And fan favorite Scooby Wright is healthy enough to get back in the lineup at linebacker this week.
“I’m super excited to be back out there,” Wright said. “And I’m really proud of the team and the guys for stepping up and playing so well while I was gone. I’m just excited to go out there and contribute to my teammates.”
Although punters sometimes get lost in the shuffle, Colby Wadman has been a major contributor to Birmingham’s success. He tops the league with a 40.6-yard net average on 26 punts.
“I call Colby ‘Gus,’ our kicking mule … he averaged 57 yards a punt last week,” Holtz said. “He’s done an unbelievable job.”
There’s little doubt the homestanding Boats will have plenty of motivation after getting drilled by Birmingham, 42-2, earlier in the season at Protective Stadium.
QB Cole Kelley has passed for 1,380 yards and six touchdowns with Vinny Papale accounting for 337 of those yards and two scores.
DB Troy Warner leads the Showboats defense with 70 tackles and defensive end Jordan Williams has contributed 5.5 sacks.
Todd Haley’s team started out 0-3 but then put together five consecutive victories – the longest streak of the year in the USFL this season – before falling to New Orleans last week, 31-3.
“I love our team and I love our guys, but we have to play a lot better than that to think of anything beyond the regular season,” Haley said.
As for Holtz, he simply hopes his team stays the course.
“It’s taken us a while to gel, but I think we’re starting to play well together, communicate … I like the way they’re working. They’ve got great attitudes.
“They like to have fun and like to joke around, but when it comes time to work, they’ve been really focused and dialed in.”
PLAYER STATUS (via Stallions Twitter)
Free Agent Signing: LB Damon Lloyd.
Transferred Player to Active Roster: WR Austin Watkins, CB Bryan Mills, LB Scooby Wright, OG Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms.
Transferred Player to Inactive Roster: WR Adrian Hardy, CB Lorenzo Burns, LB Damon Lloyd.
Transferred Player to Injured Reserve List: OT Jahmir Ross-Johnson
Suspended List: LB Quentin Poling.
Game status: OL Jahmir Johnson: Out (R Shoulder), DL Jonathan Newsome: Out (R Knee), S Christian McFarland: Probable (R Hamstring, R Shoulder, L Thumb), S JoJo Tillery: Probable (L Knee), RB Ricky Person Jr.: Probable (L Hip), LB Elijah Sullivan: Probable (R Knee), LB Rashad Smith: Probable (L Knee), DB Tyree Robinson: Probable (R Thumb, R Wrist), WR Davion Davis: Probable (L Ankle), LB Scooby Wright: Probable (L Calf), OL Matt Kaskey: Full Go (R Thumb).
PLAYER STATUS (via Showboats Twitter)
Transferred Player to Active Roster: RB Ezra Gray, S Lamont McPhatter II, LB Jeff McCulloch, DT Frank Herron, OG Kwan Stallworth.
Transferred Player to Inactive Roster: RB Kerrith Whyte, LB Aaron Hansford, S Antonio Reed, OC Jordan McCray, DT Sulaiman Kamara.
Game status: DB Quenton Meeks: Out (R Ankle), OL Lukayus McNeil: Out (L Knee), S Kyree Woods: Out (Concussion), OL Jordan McCray: Out (L Leg), RB Kerrith Whyte: Out (R Ankle), S Antonio Reed: Out (L Wrist), OL Matt Burrell: Probable (Illness), LB Aaron Hansford: Questionable (R Ribs), LB Jeff McCulloch: Questionable (L Foot), DL John Atkins: Probable (R Shoulder), S Lamont McPhatter: Probable (L Ankle), DT Frank Herron: Probable (L Knee).