Game 6! (Photo courtesy of abc24).
Things got real in week 6 of the UFL. Especially in the game between the Birmingham Stallions and the Memphis Showboats. Ambulances coming onto the field have a way of bringing clarity to the dangers of football.
Let’s talk about the game, how right I was with last week’s prediction, and make some more banger hot takes for week 7!
Birmingham VS Memphis – Week 6 Game
I watched the second half of this game at the laundromat, so I got the big-screen experience. Don’t be jealous! Seeing the ambulance come out on the gridiron with one of the players strapped to a stretcher in HD was horrifying. But we’ll get to that. Let’s start at the beginning!
1st Half
Memphis took an early lead when QB Case Cookus connected with TE Sage Surratt for a TD. They lost that lead for forever when Birmingham also had a TD between their QB Adrian Martinez and TE Jordan Thomas.
In the first half alone, Adrian Martinez got in three TDs total. Besides the initial TD from Cookus, Memphis made a field goal, with the half ending 22-9.
There were a few eventful moments in between the massacres. Memphis put a stop to Birmingham’s fake punt attempt, which gave Showboats fans a false sense of hope. The Stallions wounded players and fans alike when Cookus fumbled the very next possession, which resulted in Martinez getting another TD. Ouch!
2nd Half
The second half was awful for me. The third quarter was basically defined by the ambulance situation. The clock sat at 6:08 for a very long time while we all watched to see if Lorenzo Burns was okay. To be clear, we still don’t know if Burns is okay. There have been no updates at the time of this publication.
An ambulance drove out onto the gridiron, and a stretchered Burns was loaded on. He did move his hand, so that’s positive. Although football players have had temporary movement capabilities in their hands, they have been fully paralyzed in the NFL in the past. Our thoughts are with Lorenzo Burns and his family. How scary!
The game started up again as soon as the ambulance left the field, putting a damper on the remainder of the game.
Cookus wasn’t cooking, so he got pulled in the third quarter after a second fumble. He was replaced by Troy Williams, who was able to make a TD and a successful 3-point conversion. Martinez was cooking the entire game, with a TD (and a field goal) in the third quarter and the fourth quarter. The game ended 39-21.
Maybe Troy Williams has some winning potential in him that can turn the Memphis Showboats’ season around.
Unofficial MVP of This Game
Birmingham Stallions QB Adrian Martinez was hands-down the UFL MVP. He made a few records in one afternoon. Martinez threw four passing touchdowns in one game. The QB is also the only player who’s had 300 or more passing yards in two games.
Last Week’s UFL Week 6 Predictions – Right or Wrong?
Did I get things wrong when it came to my week 6 predictions? Check them out here for yourself!
When it came to the San Antonio Brahmas and DC Defenders, I was right about the game being balanced competition-wide. The competition was close, but unlike what I predicted, San Antonio didn’t take the win. Congrats DC!
The St. Louis Battlehawks did make minced meat out of Houston, like I said. Blood Bath II is uncomfortable and accurate when it comes to the Stallions-Showboats game.
There was more than a slim chance of the Arlington Renegades winning, surprising us all. They were only down one point at the end of their game against Michigan. That’s the inconsistency I was talking about with the Panthers.
I was right about two predictions and almost right on the other two. Can I get extra credit points? I’m still the expert, right?
UFL Week 7 Banger Takes
For all things on the UFL’s Week 7 schedule, look here. Let’s talk predictions for now, though.
The week starts out with the Memphis Showboats and the Arlington Renegades. Birmingham exposed Memphis so violently that it should have been indecent exposure. With the near win from the Renegades, I think this week will be their first win.
I cannot wait to see the St. Louis Battlehawks and the Birmingham Stallions face off Saturday afternoon. The Battlehawks are probably the best matched against the super-team Stallions and I hope they can help Birmingham get their first loss.
Considering this week’s upset, I will give the win to the DC Defenders. The teams are fairly evenly matched, though, so it’s any given Sunday on this one.
The last UFL game of week 7 will be Sunday’s Houston Roughnecks and San Antonio Brahmas games. I send thoughts and prayers to Houston for the loss they haven’t experienced yet.
Think I’m wrong on one of the games? Sound off below!
Catch all of The Forkball’s UFL content here! Jamie Malloy’s fantastic article on the St. Louis Battlehawks and Houston Roughnecks week 6 game is here. The DC Defenders cut their San Antonio Brahmas trip to the Bahamas short this week. Read Angela’s article on that week 6 game here!
