This week the Birmingham Stallions have seen Scooby Wright – arguably the team’s most iconic player – hang up his cleats due to a neck injury suffered during last weekend’s 20-18 victory over DC.
They’re also without the services of their third leading tackler, Chris Jackson, who has been placed on injured reserve.
C.J. Marable, the United Football League’s third-leading rusher, has missed practice due to personal reasons and won’t play on Saturday against the Houston Roughnecks.
That’s the bad news.
The good news?
Birmingham remains unbeaten and unbowed, and continues its run as the most successful team in professional spring football.
Currently sitting at 4-0 and holding a two-game lead in the UFL’s USFL Conference, the Stallions take their show on the road to face Houston (1-3).
“We’ve got a challenge this week with Houston, who is another 1-3 football team but when you look at them, they just got a couple of guys back from injury,” Birmingham coach Skip Holtz said. “I think they’re playing with a lot of confidence right now and they went in and had a big win last week. Played really well having their tailback (Mark Thompson) back. He was the USFL Offensive Player of the Year a year ago, very talented, big physical running back, which we know is gonna pose some problems for us as a defense.
“And they beat us last year – we were 1-1 against them. They play a very aggressive style of play on defense and we’re gonna have to play really well. In order to win, we just have to stay focused.”
The Roughnecks have taken their name from last season’s XFL team but, in reality, are the rebranded Gamblers from the USFL.
Not only did they split with Birmingham last season, but handed the two-time USFL champions their only loss in the inaugural campaign of 2022.
In fact, Houston is the only team that has defeated the Stallions more than once and is 2-2 all-time against them.
Thompson was limited and had just 34 yards on nine carries in last week’s 17-9 win over Arlington, but he also scored a touchdown and provided a huge boost to the team in his return to action.
“Mark Thompson really helped us get over the hump,” Roughnecks boss Curtis Johnson said. “He made some really good runs … and he’s on a pitch count.”
Reid Sinnett had a solid day behind center, hitting on 18 of 28 aerials for 191 yards and a TD, and connected with nine different receivers in the “W.”
The Houston defense also limited Arlington to 193 yards of total offense, forcing two fumbles, picking off a pass and registering two sacks.
As for Birmingham, it leads the UFL in 17 statistical categories, including total offense (1,479 yards), passing yards (917), rushing yards (562), all-purpose yards (2,023) field goals (12), sacks (17), rushing touchdowns allowed (none) and least points allowed (59).
“I feel like we are just now starting to hit our stride and starting to feel a little bit more comfortable with each other with the quarterbacks making some of the line calls and with the communication with the things going on at the line of scrimmage,” Holtz said. “I think we’re a work in progress, but I think we’re getting better and have to continue to strive to work on all those little things in order to get to be where we want to be.”
Once again, the Stallions will employ the 1-2 quarterback punch of Matt Corral and Adrian Martinez. Corral has passed for 494 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 99 yards; Martinez has thrown for 448 yards and two scores and churned out a team-leading (and second in the UFL) 165 ground yards with a TD.
Martinez will get the start on Saturday.
“I know it’s not easy when you play two quarterbacks, and I’ve heard all the arguments about how it doesn’t work and the chemistry doesn’t work,” Holtz said. “But we did it two years ago with Alex (McGough) and J’Mar (Smith).”
Through four weeks, Deon Cain is the only receiver to have doubled digit catches. His 16 receptions have resulted in 264 yards and TD.
Tight end Jace Sternberger has caught eight balls for 155 yards and a touchdown, and Marlon Williams and Amari Rodgers have each been on the money end of paydirt passes.
The loss of Jackson and Wright is a blow to the defense, but the unit has an abundance of talent.
Linebacker Kyahva Tezino has a staggering 32 tackles – including 19 solo – followed by cornerback Lorenzo Burns with 20 in all and 15 unassisted.
Derick Roberson has forced two fumbles and Kai Nacua has two picks for the Stallions.
Last week Birmingham battled through a long weather delay, two fumbles and four sacks, but was ultimately saved by new kicker Ramiz Ahmed’s four field goals. His last from 46 yards out was the game-winner. Holtz is proud of that win – and all of them – but knows his unbeaten team can take nothing for granted moving into week five.
“We’ve won four games,” he said. “But you could very easily see that was a two-point football game (last Saturday) and if the kick doesn’t go through and you lose, you know … you’re that close.
“So, we’ve just got to keep getting better.”