By John Goolsby, Prep Sports Editor
BIRMINGHAM, Al. – Birmingham came from behind to defeat the Michigan Panthers, 31-18, in the USFL Conference Championship Game. With the victory, the Stallions (10-1) will play for the franchise’s third spring football championship next Saturday.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – JUNE 08: Head coach Skip Holtz of the Birmingham Stallions holds the USFL Conference Champion Trophy after defeating the Michigan Panthers at Protective Stadium on June 08, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/UFL/Getty Images)
The Stallions’ second consecutive victory over the Panthers, and the third of the year, earned the team a trip to the first-ever United Football League Championship.
The Panthers (7-4) drew first blood with a 35-yard touchdown on the opening drive from Danny Etling to Siaosi Mariner.
While the Birmingham offense was looking to get on track, the Stallions’ defense held the Panthers to two field goals on their next two possessions. Michigan had a 12-0 lead with 46 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Stallions moved the ball 55 yards to the Michigan 5-yard line on their next possession but had to settle for a Chris Blewitt 23-yard field goal.
The Panthers’ Jake Bates, an ALL-UFL selection, connected on his third field goal of the day to give Michigan a 15-3 lead with 7:15 remaining in the half.
Unfortunately for the Stallions, the offense turned the ball over to the Panthers on their next possession.
Michigan capitalized on the Birmingham mistake with Bates’ fourth field goal of the half.
The Stallions trailed 18-3 with 4:04 left in the second period.
The Birmingham offense showed some signs of life on their next possession when ALL-UFL quarterback Adrian Martinez hit tight end Jordan Thomas for a 50-yard touchdown to cut the Panther lead to 18-9 with just under four minutes left in the first half.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – JUNE 08: Adrian Martinez #9 of the Birmingham Stallions looks to pass against the Michigan Panthers during the second quarter of the USFL Conference Championship game at Protective Stadium on June 08, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/UFL/Getty Images)
The Stallions’ old rivals weren’t done and looked to extend their lead. Michigan moved to the Stallions’ 33-yard line but saw a rare Bates miss on a 51-yard attempt.
The Stallions’ offense, with 1:56 on the clock, moved the ball to the Panthers’ 25-yard line but could go no further.
Blewitt connected on a 43-yarder with 16 seconds left to cut the Birmingham deficit to 18-12.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – JUNE 08: Chris Blewitt #30 of the Birmingham Stallions celebrates a field goal against the Michigan Panthers with Colby Wadman #15 during the second quarter of the USFL Conference Championship game at Protective Stadium on June 08, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/UFL/Getty Images)
The third period was less than productive for both teams. Birmingham and Michigan combined for only 77 yards, ran 25 plays, scored six points, threw four interceptions, punted three times, and fumbled twice.
The only points of the period came on a Daniel Isom 48-yard interception return for a touchdown. The pick-six tied the game at 18 with 2:50 remaining.
The Stallions opened the fourth quarter with the ball at their 37-yard line. Four plays later, Matt Corral, subbing for a benched Martinez, connected with Amari Rodgers for a seven-yard touchdown to give Birmingham a 24-18 lead.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – JUNE 08: Jordan Thomas #81 of the Birmingham Stallions celebrates a touchdown with teammates against the Michigan Panthers during the second quarter of the USFL Conference Championship game at Protective Stadium on June 08, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Donald Page/UFL/Getty Images)
Etling moved the Michigan offense to the Birmingham 26-yard line with 9:51 left in the game but couldn’t get the Panthers any closer. Armani Taylor-Prioleau blocked Bates’ 44-yard attempt.
The Corral-led offense put together a nine-play, 66-yard drive that took 5:39 off the clock. The drive was capped off with a Corral to Ricky Person, Jr. touchdown with 4:12 remaining in the game. The one-point PAT was successful, and the Stallions led 31-18.
The Panthers, with one last opportunity to get back in the game, saw their hopes dashed when Etling threw an interception to Ike Brown, his second of the game.
Birmingham ran 1:49 seconds off the clock but turned the ball over to the Panthers on downs with 13 seconds remaining in the game.
Dondrea Tillman sacked Etling to end the game.
The Stallions out-gained Michigan 365 to 253.
The Stallions offense rolled up 231 yards in the second half.
The Birmingham defense held the Michigan offense to 96 yards and had four takeaways in the second half.
Corral went 9 of 11 for 120 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Corral was happy to make the most of his opportunity. “You know, it’s just all about knowing your role and doing the best with your ability,” Corral said.
Head coach Skip Holtz had praise for both of his quarterbacks.
“Well, we wouldn’t be here without Adrian Martinez and what he has done this season,” said Holtz.
“I just felt like we needed a spark. We needed something to start it again.”
“You know, he threw an interception there early, but then after that, never blanked,” he said.
“When he got in, he made the most of it.”
Martinez was 10 of 19 for 164 yards with a touchdown and an interception before being relieved.
C.J. Marable led the Stallions with 77 rushing yards on eight carries.
Nine different Stallions had at least one reception. Marlon Williams and Deon Cain led the team with three receptions. Thomas led the team with 62 yards receiving.
Holt had high praise for his team. “Nobody flinched,” he said. “Nobody worried about losing. They just kept playing. Our defense kept us in it.”
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – JUNE 08: Jordan Thompson #94 of the Birmingham Stallions celebrates a tackle for a loss against the Michigan Panthers during the third quarter of the USFL Conference Championship game at Protective Stadium on June 08, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Donald Page/UFL/Getty Images)
“When our offense was struggling, the offense came back, put some points up,” he said.
“It was just a great team effort with a group of guys that believe in each other.They play together, and they play with just an unbelievable passion and resolve,” Holtz said. “And I’m really proud of them.”
“We have great players. We have great fans,” he said.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – JUNE 08: Birmingham Stallions fans cheer during the first quarter of the USFL Conference Championship game against the Michigan Panthers at Protective Stadium on June 08, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/UFL/Getty Images)
“More importantly, these guys, they work hard. They believe in each other, and they won’t take no for an answer.”
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – JUNE 08: C.J. Marable #11 of the Birmingham Stallions, left, and teammate show their shirts after defeating the Michigan Panthers to win the USFL Conference Championship game at Protective Stadium on June 08, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/UFL/Getty Images)
“And I am just blessed and fortunate to have the opportunity to coach such a group of fantastic young men,” he said.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – JUNE 08: Head coach Skip Holtz of the Birmingham Stallions talks with his team in the locker room after winning the USFL Conference Champion against the Michigan Panthers at Protective Stadium on June 08, 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/UFL/Getty Images)
The Stallions and Holtz, 31-4 over the last three years, have now won their respective division/conference championship game for three straight seasons (USFL South Division Champions in 2022-23; USFL Conference Champions in 2024). They will make their third straight league championship game appearance, coming off back-to-back USFL Championships in 2022-23. Holtz and Birmingham are undefeated (5-0) in the postseason all-time.
Birmingham scored 28 unanswered points over the final 30 minutes and 53 seconds of the game. The Stallions won their 10th game of the season, marking three straight seasons that they have reached double-digit victories.
The Stallions now hold a 7-1 record against the Panthers. Michigan’s lone victory, 9-7, came in the first-ever game for the Stallions in 1983.
As a franchise, the Stallions hold a record of 69-24.
The Stallions take on the winner of tomorrow’s St. Louis vs San Antonio XFL Conference Championship Game next Sunday at 4 PM. The game will be televised on Fox.
