MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Showboats 2023 season came to an end with a 27-20 loss to the Birmingham Stallions on Saturday afternoon at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
Memphis completes its first season as a member of the USFL since 1985 with a 5-5 record. Birmingham (8-2) clinched the South Division regular-season championship and will host the South Division Championship Game next weekend.
Showboats wide receiver Derrick Dillon returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. After the Stallions answered with a 25-yard field goal, Showboats quarterback Cole Kelley led a 55-yard scoring drive with four completions for 42 yards and a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vinny Papale to put Memphis in front 14-3 after one quarter.
Birmingham quarterback Alex McGough, who leads the USFL in touchdown passes, cut the Memphis lead to 14-10 with a 7-yard pass to wide receiver Deon Cain on the first play of the second quarter.
Memphis kicker Alex Kessman made his 20th-consecutive field goal attempt with 1:11 remaining in the first half as the Showboats took a 17-13 lead into halftime.
Birmingham took its first lead of the game on an 18-yard touchdown run by running back C.J. Marable late in the third quarter to make the score 20-17 heading into the final 15 minutes.
Another long kickoff return by Dillon, this time for 41 yards, gave the Memphis offense the ball at the Birmingham 39-yard line. Kessman pushed his streak to 21-straight converted field goal attempts with a 45-yarder as the Showboats tied the game at 20 with 12:21 remaining.
Following a Stallions fumble, the Showboats drove the ball to the Birmingham 22-yard line, but Kessman's streak ended with a missed 40-yard attempt. The Stallions capitalized with the decisive score five plays later on a 46-yard touchdown pass from McGough to tight end Jace Sternberger.