MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Showboats season goes from bad to worse in 39-21 loss to the Birmingham Stallions. The defeat is Memphis' fifth straight and now sees them fall to 1-5 on the season, while the Stallions are a perfect 6-0.
Memphis jumped out to an early 6-0 lead thanks to a Case Cookus 10-yard touchdown pass to Sage Surrat.
Birmingham quickly responded on its next drive and went one better, after Ricky Person rushed it in from five-yards out, QB Adrian Martinez found Jordan Thomas for the two-yard conversion to give the Stallions an 8-6 lead. From there, the Stallions would never trail again.
A C.J. Marable 4-yard touchdown pass from Martinez put Birmingham on top 16-6. Memphis responded with a field goal to pull within seven points, 16-9. Later in the half Martinez found wide receiver Marlon Williams for a 28-yard score to take a 22-9 lead into the locker room.
Cookus was 15-for-23 for 115 yards and had two fumbles which saw him pulled in the third quarter.
Troy Williams replaced Cookus and threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Dee Anderson but the Showboats were unable to overcome the first half deficit for the second-straight week.
Williams went 6-of-13 for 65 yards, with the one touchdown and one interception.
Daewood Davis hauled in five receptions for 43 yards to lead Memphis. Darius Victor rushed for 42 yards on 11 carries. Defensively, Malik Lawal and Jarey Elder tied for a game-high eight tackles.
Meanwhile Martinez was 23-of-36 for 368 yards and four touchdowns to pace the Birmingham offense. Person was the Stallions’ leading rusher with 34 yards on 11 carries. Austin recorded 108 yards receiving on four catches, including his 80-yard TD.
With the dub, the Stallions clinch a berth in the USFL Conference Championship game/the playoffs. Meanwhile Memphis' hopes start to dwindle. Only the top two teams in each conference get to play in the Championship game. Birmingham has already secured one spot and the Michigan Panthers who are in second have a 3-2 record ahead of their Sunday clash against Arlington.