2023, June 3rd: Stars 24 @ Stallions 27

The UFL earlier today announced the three teams that would be joining the league following the demise of the Michigan, San Antonio, and Memphis clubs. Louisville, Orlando, and Colombus join the fun, while the Houston team rebrands back to the Gamblers name and the Arlington franchise is now known as the Dallas Renegades.

A lot to take in, and it all puts us in a mood to look at back at another game in the Stallions brief but successful history. The summary, image, and video below all look back on the team's early June 2023 victory against Philadelphia in week 8 of that season. 

Mark Inabinett for al.com:  The Birmingham Stallions defeated the Philadelphia Stars by three points in last year’s USFL Championship Game, and they did it again on Saturday in a clash between the league’s division leaders.

Tight end La’Michael Pettway caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Alex McGough with 28 seconds remaining to lift the Stallions to a 27-24 victory over the Stars on Saturday at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.

Deon Cain #85 of the Birmingham Stallions stiff arms Samuel Akem #84 of the Philadelphia Stars during the first quarter of a game at Protective Stadium on June 03, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/USFL/Getty Images for USFL)

After Pettway’s touchdown, Birmingham cornerback Nate Brooks intercepted Philadelphia quarterback Case Cookus’ long throw on the final snap of the game to end the only fourth-quarter possession that did not finish with points.

The Stallions took a 17-14 lead five seconds into the final period on McGough’s 10-yard TD pass to tight end Jace Sternberger. A 71-yard completion from McGough to wide receiver Davion Davis set up the score.

Philadelphia had to settle for a tying field goal of 25 yards by Luis Aguilar with 7:25 left after reaching first-and-goal at the Birmingham 9-yard line. Brandon Aubrey’s 41-yard field goal with 4:35 remaining put the Stallions up 20-17.

Three consecutive completions by Cookus moved the Stars 52 yards and back into the lead with 3:05 to play, with running back Dexter Williams scoring on a 7-yard reception.

A 23-yard McGough-to-Sternberger connection on fourth-and-8 with 46 seconds to play pushed Birmingham to the Philadelphia 12-yard line to set up the winning score.

McGough completed 24-of-35 passes for 333 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Davis had four receptions for 120 yards and one touchdown.

2023, May 7th: Stallions 24 @ Maulers 20

Since I'm in recap mode, having done the BSC game below, we'll deliberately skip over the Birmingham Stallions' loss 2023 week 3 loss to New Orleans and instead revisit the team's week 4 win over Pittsburgh, played in Canton, Ohio.

The text below is from a rather literal play-by-play summary from the Fox Sports website. The photos are from social media, with the exception of the one, lifted from an al.com recap of the week that was in the USFL.

Josh Simmons ran the opening kickoff out to the Birmingham 45-yard line for Pittsburgh.

On the fourth play of the drive, quarterback Troy Williams hit wide receiver Isiah Hennie for a 25-yard pickup, getting Pittsburgh inside the Birmingham 10-yard line. With that said, the Maulers didn't get into the end zone, settling for a 20-yard field goal from Chris Blewitt.

Birmingham and Pittsburgh went three-and-out after the latter's opening score. Then disaster struck for Birmingham, as quarterback Alex McGough had his pass intercepted by cornerback Mark Gilbert. 

One play after the turnover, Williams hit wide receiver Bailey Gaither for a 35-yard completion, putting the ball on the Birmingham 2-yard line... The Maulers were unable to reach the end zone again, though, settling for a 22-yard Blewitt field goal.

McGough was intercepted again on the first play of the next possession. This pick came from cornerback Keith Gipson Jr. on a downfield pass.

ZaQuandre White

After the Maulers got to midfield, Williams took off for a 16-yard carry... On the next play, Williams hit tight end Matt Seybert for a 20-yard pickup. The drive ended with a third Blewitt field goal.

Brandon Aubrey connected on a 37-yard field goal with 1:45 remaining in the second quarter to get Birmingham on the board.

Pittsburgh went three-and-out after the Birmingham field goal, and then the latter took the lead on the next drive.

After methodically bringing the ball down the field through the air, McGough ran in a 5-yard score, which saw him reach for the pylon near the sideline as time expired in the first half. The Stallions led 10-9 at halftime.

Alex McGough

Backed up at their own 9-yard line, Maulers running back Garrett Groshek produced a powerful first-down run to get them out of harm's way.

Two plays after the Groshek's first-down run, Williams threw downfield to wide receiver Tre Walker, who pulled off a sensational diving catch. The pair of big plays sparked a Pittsburgh drive that ended with a 46-yard field goal from Blewitt. Pittsburgh led 12-10 after the third quarter.

Birmingham put together a 14-play touchdown drive that ended with an eventful scoring play.

On third-and-9, McGough couldn't find an open receiver, continued to buy time with his legs, evaded sack attempts and eventually found wide receiver Davion Davis for the touchdown (below).

Williams took the snap, ran up the middle and ran around Birmingham's defense for a 34-yard touchdown, Pittsburgh's first of the game. Hennie then converted the 2-point conversion, giving the Maulers a 20-17 lead with 6:52 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Stallions got seven of those points back on the ensuing kickoff, as Deon Cain ran it out 91 yards for the touchdown.

(Deion Cain Photo by Jason Miller/USFL/Getty Images for USFL)

Pittsburgh went three-and-out after the kickoff return, and Birmingham proceeded to run out the clock thereafter.

In all, McGough led the team in rushing with 48 yards on ten carries including his dramatic TD.  Davion Davis had eight receptions for 71 yards and the lone touchdown through the air. Linebacker Scooby Wright had six tackles including one for a loss.  

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