The Birmingham Stallions have been the most dominant football team of the current spring era.
They won back-to-back United States Football League championships, have been victorious in 30 of the 34 games they’ve played, and have never had a losing streak.
But all dynasties eventually fall, and Saturday at Protective Stadium the Michigan Panthers get their chance to topple an empire in the United Football League’s first playoff game.
Michigan (7-3) matched Birmingham (9-1) almost blow-for-blow last Saturday, losing 20-19 when All-UFL kicker Jake Bates’ 53-yard field goal missed the mark on the game’s final play.
“It’s always nice to win,” Birmingham coach Skip Holtz said. “It sure beats the heck out of the alternative. When you go back and you look at this game, there were a lot of things that were very positive but, obviously, a lot of things we need to clean up.”
The USFL Conference Championship Game could be – and should be – another clash that goes down to the wire. This time, though, it’s all or nothing.
“I see a difference, just in the building,” Holtz said. “I see a difference in the attitude, the tempo at practice … it’s playoff time. There’s an excitement, there’s an energy, there’s an enthusiasm right now. I think these guys are really ready to go play and hopefully we can execute much better as an offense and a defense than we did a week ago.”
Quarterback Adrian Martinez – named All-UFL quarterback on Wednesday – has rushed for 530 yards this season, 288 more than the next closest Stallion (running back Rickey Person Jr. with 342). Although he split playing time with Matt Corral earlier in the season, his legs – and arm – helped him become the clear No. 1.
Martinez is 134-229-3 passing for 1,749 yards and 15 touchdowns, and his 2,277 yards of total offense makes him a leading candidate for player of the year.
Last week, however, he was sacked five times.
Holtz doesn’t anticipate a repeat of that on Saturday, saying it was more a case of poor execution that the Stallions being bullied by the Panthers’ “D.”
“Two of (the sacks) were poor decisions by the quarterback where we should have thrown the ball away,” Holtz said. “(Martinez) will be the first one to tell you. I’m not trying to throw stones at Adrian … he’s been unbelievable and made good decisions all year. But on those two, he just needs to throw the ball across the line of scrimmage and we’re good.
“So, when you go back and look at it, it’s not like we’ve got to find a way to double-team this guy or that guy. We’re not going to change schematically. We’re just going to have to make smarter decisions and execute our offense better.”
Michigan coach Mike Nolan, who was named UFL Coach of the Year on Thursday, said Martinez will likely be unleashed in the conference championship game.
“Well, I believe he’ll probably run more this week,” Nolan said. “I think there was a little bit of protecting him from that standpoint, which is very understandable. You want to keep him healthy, and he is a huge part of their offense and a huge part of their success.”
All-UFL tight end Jace Sternberger has 454 receiving yards and four touchdowns for Birmingham; Deon Cain has scored three times and accounted for 436 yards; and Marlon Williams has four touchdowns to go along with 313 yards.
Defensively, Kyahva Tezino leads the way with 70 tackles (38 solo), while Damon Lloyd has been in on 44 and DeMarquis Gates, 37. Gates also has three tackles for 21 yards in losses.
All-UFL safety A.J. Thomas has snagged three of Birmingham’s eight interceptions this season.
Nose tackle Carlos Davis – also on the All-UFL Team – paces the sack crew with seven, and hopes to add to that total against an offense that has trended upward week by week.
“I thought they got a lot better throughout the year, and I think they do a good job with their quarterbacks,” Davis said. “The quarterbacks are mobile, and that’s something that we’re gonna have to stop this week, just keeping them in the pocket and not letting them get out to make plays or run down the field. And, they’ve got some great wide receivers, as well.”
Michigan’s QB room features Danny Etling, Bryce Perkins and Brian Lewerke.
In seven games, Etling is 69-114-2 for 787 yards and three TDs, while Perkins has played in four games and gone 30-38-1 for 664 yards and two touchdown passes.
Both signal callers are effective runners, although the ground game is currently led by RB Matthew Colburn II with 423 yards and four touchdowns.
Nolan said earlier in the week Etling will get the start, but Perkins was likely to play. On the depth chart released on Friday, however, Perkins was inactive and Lewerke was listed as the backup.
“Our quarterbacks all kind of run the same show,” Nolan said. “We don’t have one that’s a runner and one that’s not, it’s both guys.
“All of our quarterbacks, as matter of fact, are capable of using their legs when they need to and being in the pocket as well.”
All-UFL wideout Marcus Simms has caught 23 balls for 426 yards and three touchdowns, while Siaosi Mariner has two TDs and 346 yards.
In last week’s game against Birmingham, Mariner had 110 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions.
Michigan has three players with at least 40 tackles; Kai Nacua (47), Bryce Torneden (42) and Javin White (41).
UFL Defensive Player of the Year Breeland Speaks has 9.5 of the Panthers’ 30 sacks.
Nacua, Speaks, Daniel Wise and Nate Brooks are All-UFL selections.
Nolan suggests both teams will stick to their normal game plan, although there could be a few more “trick” plays.
“I think they’ll take their chances with maybe some kind of exotic play, whether it be a reverse pass or something you have in your pocket,” Nolan said. “You don’t use it in the game like the other day … you usually use plays like that when the game has a little bit more on the line. So, if there’s anything in the way of an exotic play, it would probably come this week.”
Game time is set for 2 p.m. with ABC televising and ESPN Xtra on SiriusXM providing audio coverage.
“Bring a friend,” Holtz said. “We need people and that home field advantage. Let’s light that place up. We’ve got a great crowd, they’re loud, they’re into it, they’re vocal – they make a difference.
“And I just think about if we could try and fill that lower bowl, oh, my gosh. I mean, it would be absolutely awesome.”