"Miles places nine on All-SIAC football team"

Nine Golden Bears were named to the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football team, which was released by the conference office (November 15th)...Additionally, Lashon Young was named SIAC Defensive Player of the Year, Travaunta Abner was the league's Elite 16 winner, and head coach Sam Shade won SIAC Coach of the Year. All selections were made by the vote from each conference football-playing institution.

FIRST TEAM

Young, a sophomore defensive back from Sweet Water, Ala., was selected Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the First Team after a regular season that saw him lead NCAA Division II in interceptions with seven. He also has 12 total passes defended, which is tied for 15th in the nation. He enters the SIAC Championship Game with 34 tackles (29 solo), three tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and an interception that was returned for a touchdown. He also has two game with two interceptions.

Abner, a junior tight end from Lanett, Ala., currently has 19 catches for 256 yards and two touchdowns in eight games this season. This is Abner's second straight season as a First Team selection. He has also been a strong blocker that has established the Golden Bears as one of the top offensive teams in the SIAC. Abner has also shown his prowess in the classroom, which earned him the Elite 16 award, which recognizes the student-athlete who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the SIAC championship level in their sport while also achieving the highest academic standard among their peers. He currently holds a 3.75 grade point average.

Christian Twymon, a senior from Sylacauga, Ala., was chosen as a member of the First Team offensive line. Lining up at left tackle, Twymon started all 10 games and has been a starter all four years he has been in the Golden Bears program. This season, he has 27 pancake blocks, has a 90 percent overall grade, as has allowed just one sack.

Jason Stovall, a redshirt junior from Atlanta, was a Preseason All-SIAC pick and earns his first selection to the First Team. A left guard, Stovall started all 10 games and has 22 pancake blocks. He has an overall grade of 88 percent and allowed just one sack this season. 

Roc Dowdell, a senior from Lanett, Ala., was chosen to the First Team as a defensive lineman. He has been a terror to offenses all season, as he is nationally-ranked in sacks (7.0, t-15th) and has 13.0 tackles for loss, which is sixth in the SIAC. So far this season, Dowdell has 40 tackles (24 solo), two fumble recoveries and a safety.

Lashon Young

SECOND TEAM

Jamichael Rogers, a redshirt junior from Bessemer, Ala., was chosen to the Second Team as a defensive lineman for the second consecutive season. He has been equally as dominant as Dowdell as the defensive end position for Miles, currently tied for 23rd in Division II in tackles for loss (14.0), which is fourth in the SIAC. He has 37 tackles (30 solo), six sacks, and eight quarterback hurries. He also has a pass breakup and a forced fumble.

Jonero Scott, a redshirt junior from Baton Rouge, La., was named to the Second Team as a running back after strong campaign that was only slowed by injury. Despite missing four games and playing sparingly in three others, Scott is currently fifth in the SIAC with 524 rushing yards on just 97 carries with three touchdowns. He had two games with more than 100 yards rushing, including a 184-yard effort at Allen in just three quarters, which was the second-highest single-game total in the SIAC this season.

William Hardy, a senior from Birmingham, Ala., was named to the Second Team as a linebacker. He leads the Golden Bears and is ninth in the SIAC with 61 tackles (40 solo). He has seven tackles for loss, two sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble this season.

Cam Williams, a redshirt sophomore from Bessemer, Ala., was named to the Second Team as a defensive back. He has been one of the top corners in the SIAC, currently with 18 tackles (15 solo) and interception and 10 pass breakups, which leads the SIAC. His 11 passes defended is tied for 25th nationally.

Jonero Scott

COACH OF THE YEAR

Shade, in his third season with Miles, wins his first Coach of the Year award after leading the Golden Bears to the best regular season mark in the SIAC. Miles is currently 8-2 overall and went 8-0 in conference play in 2024. The team's current eight-game win streak is tied for the best single-season streak at Miles since 1950. The Golden Bears are also ranked nationally, coming in at No. 25 this week. Miles leads the conference in several categories, including fewest points allowed and most rushing yards, while the team has national rankings in turnovers forced (second), total sacks (tied for second), turnover margin and defensive touchdowns (both tied for fifth).

2023, April 22nd: Memphis Showboats 02 @ Birmingham Stallions 42

The summary below combines two articles from Fox Sports. 

The first is by Greg Auman for Fox Sports. It was more of a general overview that included several quotes, which I've not copied. The full article can be found at this link. 

The second is a list of the major plays in the game, also by Fox Sports. There was no credit provided. 

The photography is from social media, though a couple were credited to Andy Lyons in an al.com article. Browsing the Getty Images folder for this game, I believe they should all be credited to him. Unfortunately, I was not able to locate a website or social media account for Mr. Lyons to link to, but if I do, I shall add it here. 

Birmingham...entered the game with uncertainty, having lost a starting quarterback, running back, and receiver to serious injuries in last week's game, leaving them shorthanded. Quarterback Alex McGough led the way Saturday, throwing for four touchdowns and 302 yards without a turnover, while Zaquandre White rushed for 75 yards and two scores.

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The 42 points is the second-most scored in a USFL game since the league returned last year — the Philadelphia Stars had 46 in a win last season — and the margin of victory is the largest. In 40 games last season, the most lopsided game was by 31 points, and the losing end of that was the Tampa Bay Bandits, who moved to Memphis and became the Showboats.

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McGough's first pass was a 47-yard throw to tight end Jace Sternberger (below), and the two would connect five times for 126 yards and a touchdown. That score put Birmingham up 21-0 just before halftime. The Stallions did not let up, and McGough credited his teammates for making it easy for him.

McGough's only real blemish on the night came late in the third quarter, when he was sacked in the end zone by Memphis, resulting in a safety and spoiling what could have been just the second USFL shutout in as many seasons. Birmingham outgained Memphis by a 463-183 margin and had a 27-10 edge on first downs, holding the Showboats to one conversion in 11 third-down attempts.

Above by Greg Auman

 

Deon Cain

Memphis went three-and-out to begin the game. Then Birmingham was on the verge of punting the ensuing possession before quarterback Alex McGough hooked up with tight end Jace Sternberger going to his left for a 49-yard completion.

Two plays later, McGough threw a dart, 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Davion Davis, giving the Stallions the early lead.

After another Memphis three-and-out, Birmingham picked up right where it left off. 

A 20-yard completion to Myron Mitchell and a 23-yard completion to Sternberger put the Stallions in field goal range. Then one play after an 11-yard completion to Deon Cain, Zaquandre White ran in Birmingham's second score. The Stallions led 14-0 after the first quarter.

ZaQuandre White

Memphis converted a fourth-and-one from its own 41-yard line, as quarterback Brady White hit wide receiver Ryan McDaniel for the five-yard pickup and the first down.

However, the Showboats couldn't come up with points, as Alex Kessman missed a 48-yard field goal.

Two plays after McGough hit Sternberger for a 28-yard completion, the two hooked up for a score. 

Going to his left, McGough found Sternberger for a 25-yard touchdown. The touchdown reception was one of four catches for Sternberger in the first half, which totaled 123 yards.

Memphis got into field goal range before halftime, but White was intercepted by safety T.J. Carter in the end zone.

Birmingham led 21-0 at halftime.

Austin Watkins

Birmingham was set to punt it away on the opening possession of the second half, but Memphis was called for too many men on the field, giving the Stallions a new set of downs. One play later, White ran through the Showboats defense, evading a couple of tackles for a 35-yard touchdown.

Memphis got the ball past midfield after putting Ryan Willis in at quarterback, but Rashad Smith then strip-sacked Willis and Birmingham came up with the loose ball.

Six plays later, McGough hit tight end Thaddeus Moss for a 7-yard touchdown. The Stallions led 35-0.

Myron Mitchell

The Showboats got on the board near the end of the third quarter when Jeremiah Valoaga sacked McGough in the end zone for a safety.

Memphis turned the ball over on downs at the Birmingham 5-yard line after the safety. The Stallions then ate up 8:43 on a 15-play drive that ended with a touchdown. McGough capped off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell.

Donnie Lewis II

"Ivory Earns SIAC Weekly Award"

Miles quarterback Kamren Ivory was named Offensive Player of the Week in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for his performance in the Golden Bears' win over Benedict.

Ivory, a redshirt junior from Birmingham, Ala., came off a three-week layoff to rack up 310 yards of total offense. He was 17-of-25 for 243 yards passing with two touchdowns. He also added a game-high 62 yards rushing - with a Miles season-high 55-yard run. 

This season, Ivory has completed 54 percent of his passes for 1,064 yards and eight touchdowns for the Golden Bears.

Ivory played his high school ball at Ramsay. I believe he was at Alcorn State prior to moving on to Miles. He's putting up some solid numbers as it is, so he could be in for a big senior year. One to watch. 

Stallions Bring Back WR Austin Watkins

I don't often share news on this page, but being that Watkins is a former UAB Blazer, it seemed appropriate to do so in this case. His return to Birmingham was announced by the league in their daily transactions report yesterday.

Watkins was with the team in 2023. He had 16 receptions for 197 yards, including a 61-yard reception for a touchdown.

At UAB, as a redshirt senior, Watkins was named first-team All-Conference USA after finishing the season with 34 receptions for 468 yards with three touchdowns. This followed a season in which he was named second-team All-Conference USA after catching 57 passes for 1,092 yards and six touchdowns.

Speedy Eagle 2.25 put together a highlight package of Watkins that include UAB, USFL, and NFL content.  Check that out below. 

The Stallions also brought in cornerback Jayden Price from North Dakota State. 

1991 Football Team Included In Samford's 2025 Hall Of Fame Class

Samford Athletics announced its 2025 Hall of Fame class earlier today and the 1991 edition of its football team was among the inductees. 

1991 FOOTBALL TEAM
INDUCTEE CLASS OF 2025
The 1991 Samford football team set the standard for Bulldog football squads. The team set the school record for regular-season wins with 10 and for overall season wins with 12. The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 10-1 mark and entered the NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) Playoffs for the first time in school history. Playing each round on the road, Samford earned wins at New Hampshire (29-13) and James Madison (24-21) before falling to eventual national champion Youngstown State in the national semifinals. The run to the semifinals is, to date, the deepest playoff run at the Division I level in program history. The Bulldogs finished the season ranked in the top 10 of the national I-AA rankings for the first time in program history.

Let's look back at the final victory in a highly successful season, as the Bulldogs travelled to Harrisonburg, Virginia, to take on James Madison. The article below is from the December 9th, 1991. Birmingham Post-Herald. 

"Scarbrough Named SWAC Defensive Player of the Week"

Defensive Back (and Birmingham native) Amon Scarbrough was named the Soutwhestern Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. 

Scarbrough recorded eight tackles, inducing six solos and one tackle for loss. Scarbrough's interception ended Alabama A&M's final drive and sealed the Hornets 27-19 win in the Magic City Classic. He also had a pass break up and a fumble forced. 

The Alabama State defense caused four AAMU turnovers that led to 20 points last week.

"Marion Stirs Memories of WFL"

In the June 29th, 1980, Montgomery Advertiser, John Cargile saw cause to feel nostalgic about the WFL's 1.5 seasons. It read like a nice summary of the league's presence in the magic city and therefore share-worthy here.

1975, Oct 19th: Memphis Southmen 00 @ Birmingham Vulcans 21

The article below is from the October 20th, 1975, Birmingham Post-Herald. This was the Vulcans' final game and they went out in style.