The United Football League exists for two primary reasons.
For the players, it offers a stage in which they can audition for a promotion to – or back to – the NFL.
And for fans of year-round gridiron action, it’s quality entertainment in a time that used to be baseball’s domain.
All of the UFL coaches realize this, but I’m not sure any of them grasp it better that Birmingham Stallions boss Skip Holtz.
From the time-share quarterback system featuring Adrian Martinez and Matt Corral, to the next man up mentality that usually sees the next man step up, he knows how to win the players as well as win the game.
And it’s extremely fun to watch.
Saturday night at Rice Stadium was another object lesson, as the Stallions improved to 5-0 with a no-doubt-about-it, 32-9 victory over the Houston Roughnecks (1-4).
“It’s been a very difficult week for me personally … I lost a dear friend this week, and it’s been really a tough week for me,” Holtz said. “But I shared it with the team, and what the emotional level we were going to have to bring, and really proud of what they did. Really proud of the attitude that they showed up with and the way they played. I thought defensively we did what we had to do to get off the field. We gave up the one drive right before half but other than that, I thought our defense played an excellent football game.
“And I thought offensively, it was a very blue collar, businesslike approach.”
It was Martinez’s turn to run the show and he ran it like a champ, finishing with 138 rushing yards and going 11-20-0 through the air for 155 yards and a touchdown in helping the club win its 12th consecutive contest.
Holtz likes to say players come to the UFL to get film and win, and Martinez was able to check both those boxes in Houston with an outstanding performance.
“This week was Adrian’s game,” Holtz said. “They go out and compete on Tuesday, Wednesday, and I make that decision (on who’ll start) Thursday morning. I think they both need the reps on Tuesday and Wednesday to continue their growth and the development in their first year in this offense.
“But I’ll make the decision on Thursday who’s going to play and so when it became Adrian’s game, he’s going to go wire to wire unless he gets injured. I thought he had a heckuva night with his feet tonight and a couple of big plays.”
This one was basically over in the second quarter when Birmingham hung 20 points on the hosts in the frame.
Leading 26-9 at the break, all the Stallions had to do was hold serve the rest of way.
They did that, never allowing the ‘Necks to get any breathing room and adding a pair of field goals to extend their advantage. Aside from shutting Houston out over the final 30 minutes, the Birmingham “D” forced two turnovers on the night and limited Curtis Johnson’s charges to a mere 36 rushing yards.
Larry Roundtree III parlayed his first Birmingham appearance into a 50-yard, one TD night carrying the ball, and Jace Sternberger led the receiving corps with 46 receiving yards and a score.
The winners outgained the hosts, 358-271.
Roundtree played in place of C.J. Marable, who was out of action this week to tend to family matters.
“It’s nice to see what (Roundtree) is gonna do,” Holtz explained. “We know he’s talented. I mean, Tree is like the leading rusher in Missouri history. He had 1,000-yard seasons in the SEC, a very talented back, and spent some time in the NFL. I really liked what he’s done, the way he’s played, the way he’s progressed, and the unselfish attitude that he’s had.
“I think he’s getting better every week and I told him last week I said, ‘Look, I don’t know when you’re going to get your opportunity because (Marable and Ricky Person) are playing really well right now. But when you get your opportunity, just be prepared to make the most of it and keep learning and getting better.’ He’s humble … he’s a phenomenal young man.”
Mark Gilbert paced the Stallions’ resistance with 11 tackles (nine solo) and Nevelle Clarke and JoJo Tillery each snagged INTs.
Tillery, unfortunately, pulled a hamstring while returning his interception.
Birmingham now leads the USFL Conference of the UFL by two and a half games over Michigan; the Panthers play Memphis on Sunday.
Houston QB Reid Sinnett was 27-38-1 for 203 yards and a touchdown, with Justin Hall catching 11 balls for 93 yards.
“We came in and said if we can get up – if we can do what we’re supposed to do offensively – it can change the game,” Holtz said. “We were able to limit a little bit what they can do.”
Scoring plays: Birmingham, Ricky Person Jr., 6-yard run, 8:44 first quarter, 2-point conversion failed, Stallions 6, Roughnecks 0; Houston, J.J. Molson, 36-yard field goal, 13:52 second quarter, Stallions 6, Roughnecks 3; Birmingham, Larry Roundtree III, 5-yard run, 10:21 second quarter, 2-point conversion failed, Stallions 12, Roughnecks 3; Birmingham, Jace Sternberger, 27-yard reception from Adrian Martinez, 7:33 second quarter, 2-point conversion failed, Stallions 18, Roughnecks 3; Birmingham, Person Jr., 2-yard run, 2:01 second quarter, 2-point conversion, Martinez run, Stallions 26, Roughnecks 3; Houston, Braedon Bowman, 1-yard reception from Reid Sinnett, :11 second quarter, 2-point conversion failed, Stallions 26, Roughnecks 9; Birmingham, Ramiz Ahmed, 37-yard field goal, 5:27 third quarter, Stallions 29, Roughnecks 9; Birmingham, Ahmed, 27-yard field goal, 13:48 fourth quarter, Stallions 32, Roughnecks 9.
Standout stat: 12. The number of consecutive victories by the Stallions, a record for a Birmingham-branded professional football team. They broke the Birmingham Americans’ mark of 10 straight last week against DC.
Next up: The Stallions stay on the road to face Memphis at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium next Saturday at 11 a.m. CDT. The game will be televised by ABC.
Familiar stadium: Although Saturday was the first time the Birmingham Stallions had visited Rice Stadium, Holtz is quite familiar with the venue. During his tenure as head coach of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, playing Rice – at Rice Stadium – was a regular occurrence. Both schools were members of Conference USA.
Before today’s UFL encounter, Holtz’s last appearance at the 47,000-seat structure was on November 27, 2021, when his Bulldogs fell to the Owls, 35-31.
A day earlier Louisiana Tech officials and Holtz announced that they were “parting ways.”
“I am not done coaching football and have great passion and energy to continue to lead young men through this game that I love so much,” Holtz said in a statement.
Less than two months later, he was named head coach of the Stallions.
Great wor as usual Scott