The inaugural UFL season has reached its midway point, and this week’s game features a clash between the undefeated Birmingham Stallions and the less successful Memphis Showboats. In this USFL Conference rivalry matchup, the Stallions are aiming to maintain their dominance, while Memphis is in desperate need of a win to stay in postseason contention.
Memphis will be looking to avenge a 33-14 loss at the hands of the Stallions in Birmingham in Week 3. Meanwhile, Birmingham is 5-0 and coming off back-to-back USFL Championship seasons, whereas Memphis has lost its last four since winning the opener.
Both head coaches, Skip Holtz and John DeFilippo, are very familiar with each other, having attended historical meetings in both the USFL and now the UFL. In 2023, as the head coach of the New Orleans Breakers, Showboats head coach John DeFilippo was 1-2 against Holtz. Including their earlier matchup this year, DeFilippo is now 1-3 against Holtz. In this game, he looks to close the gap with a win.
What do we know?
For the Memphis Showboats, their week-five game against the Michigan Panthers proved to be a demoralizing loss. In a heavy rain shower, two first-quarter Michigan Panthers touchdowns and a Memphis turnover all put a damper on the start of the game for the Showboats, who dropped a 35-18 decision. Memphis fell behind 13-0 after one quarter on a pair of rushing touchdowns, sandwiched around a fumble on a strip sack of quarterback Troy Williams. Late in the half, Michigan extended its lead to 19-0.
Williams then found Daewood Davis streaking down the left sideline. The 82-yard scoring strike was the longest of the season so far in the UFL, making it 19-6. Michigan opened the second half with a TD to go up 25-6. But Memphis wouldn’t go away quietly. The Showboats recovered a muffed punt at the Panthers’ 7-yard line, leading to a Williams-to-Jonathan Adams touchdown pass.
The Showboats then drove 75 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 4-yard TD pass from Williams to Sage Surratt. It was a 1-possession game heading into the fourth, 25-18. However, the Panthers answered on the first possession of the final frame. Wes Hills rushed for a 14-yard touchdown to give his team a 32-18 edge.
T.J. Neal led the way with a game-high five solo tackles, and tied for team- and game-high honors with six total stops. P.J. Hall and T.J. Green also tied for the team lead with a game-high six stops, and Hall added his first sack of the season in the contest. Jordan Ferguson and Greg Reaves each tallied one sack, giving them three each for the season.
Troy Williams threw for three touchdowns, a season-best for any Showboats quarterback. He also threw scoring strikes to Jonathan Adams and Sage Surratt. However, it looks like the Showboats plan to start quarterback Case Cookus for this week’s game. Cookus may be thrilled about starting, but he must recall the last time the Showboats faced the Stallions, a game in which he faced relentless pressure and sacking.
Last week, the Birmingham Stallions traveled to Houston for their inaugural matchup against the Roughnecks, and quarterback Adrian Martinez guided the Stallions to a commanding 32-9 victory. The team’s offense and defense proved too much for the Roughnecks, who faced challenges in securing first downs and halting the Stallions’ scoring drives.
Martinez finished the game with an 11-for-20 passing performance, good for 155 yards, and 138 rushing yards. His 138 yards on the ground set a new league record for rushing yards in a single game. Larry Rountree III made an impressive debut as a Stallion, rushing for 50 yards with one touchdown, including a 30-yard run on his first play from scrimmage.
Tight end Jace Sternberger led the Stallions’ receiving corps with 46 yards and one touchdown. Deon Cain followed with 33 receiving yards, and Marlon Williams rounded out the leaderboard with 22 receiving yards.
The Stallions’ defense remained the league’s top drive-stopping force. Mark Gilbert led the defense with 11 tackles. Veteran DeMarquis Gates ended the game with seven tackles. Kenny Robinson Jr. recorded six tackles, one for loss, and two passes defended.
The Stallions’ defense still holds the league record for sacks with 18. The Stallions feature the No. 1 total offense and No. 2 scoring offense in the UFL. Birmingham’s defense is also among the league’s best, ranking No. 1 in scoring defense and No. 2 in total defense.
For this week’s game, safety JoJo Tillery is healing from a left hamstring injury and was not able to practice this week. The team has declared Tillery inactive for this game, while safety Kenny Robinson and linebacker Damon Lloyd, despite limited practice time, are still on the active roster.
The Stallions have issued a depth chart that indicates Adrian Martinez will be their starting quarterback this week, and Ricky Person, Jr., is listed as the number one running back.
What should we expect?
The biggest weakness of this Showboats has been the number of sacks allowed, so far numbered at 25 for the season. Cookus is known for his mobility, and he will need it against the Stallions.
There is every reason to expect the Stallions to pick up where they left off in week three and issue another beatdown to the Showboats. Too bad it may happen in front of the Memphis hometown fans.
Despite being on the road, the Stallions are heavily favored to win this game, with oddsmakers making them 11.5-point favorites. Mind you, they have not lost a game this season, and they are facing a Memphis squad that is struggling in all aspects of their game. People keep waiting for the Showboats to right the ship and put another notch in the win column. This is not the week to expect it to happen.
An 11.5-point spread is a lot; however, it might be a waste of money to think Memphis can make it that close against the powerhouse Stallions.
