Stallions prance into playoffs by smashing Showboats

The Birmingham Stallions built momentum for the playoffs by posting a 46-9 triumph over the host Memphis Showboats in the UFL regular-season finale on Sunday.

The Stallions (7-3) -- who host the Michigan Panthers next week for the USFL Conference title and the right to meet the XFL Conference winner in the championship game -- received 42 rushing yards and two touchdowns by Ricky Person Jr.

J'Mar Smith started for Birmingham and completed 13 of 17 passes for 127 yards and one score before Andrew Peasley jumped in and threw for 93 yards as the blowout unfolded.

The Showboats (2-8) got as close as 13-9 on Deneric Prince's 6-yard touchdown run with 10:20 left in the first half, but the Stallions reeled off the last 33 points. Smith started the spree with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Amari Rodgers.

From there, Harrison Mevis boomed field goals of 49 and 54 yards, Person and Larry Rountree III rushed for 2-yard scores and Tae Crowder intercepted a Dresser Winn pass and took it 25 yards for a touchdown.