Adrian Martinez threw four touchdown passes and the Birmingham Stallions remained undefeated with a 39-21 win against the host Memphis Showboats on Saturday.
The Stallions (6-0) became the first United Football League team to clinch a playoff spot and have won 13 straight games dating back to last season in the USFL. The Showboats (1-5) lost their fifth consecutive game.
Martinez completed 23 of 36 passes for 368 yards with no interceptions. Kevin Austin Jr. caught four passes for 108 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown that pushed the lead to 31-9 late in the third quarter. Marlon Williams caught two TD passes.
Memphis seized a 6-0 first-quarter lead on Case Cookus’ 10-yard TD pass to Sage Surratt, but the Showboats did not find the end zone again until there was 2:29 left in the game.
Battlehawks 22, Roughnecks 8
AJ McCarron threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns and the St. Louis defense limited visiting Houston to minus-5 yards rushing en route to a fifth consecutive victory.
McCarron was 24 of 37 with one interception and TD passes of 17 yards and 36 yards to Hakeem Butler and a 1-yard scoring toss to Steven Mitchell Jr.
The Battlehawks (5-1) were held below their season average of 30.2 points but limited the Roughnecks (1-5) to eight fourth-quarter points on Mark Thompson’s 16-yard touchdown run and Ronheen Bingham’s safety.
Reid Sinnett was 19-of-34 passing for 135 yards for Houston.
–Field Level Media
