by This article is brought to you by – Sponsors – KEE On Sports Media Group
Canton, OH – The USFL completed their first season back in front of a packed house at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. It was a thrilling championship game that encapsuled a tremendous season. The Birmingham Stallions captured the exciting 33-30 victory over the Philadelphia stars.
The Stallions were led by Bo Scarbrough who rushed for 135 yards on just13 carries with a touchdown. He helped spark them to a 20-9 lead at the half. Marlon Williams had a big night with 7 catches for 105 yards and a score.
The Stallions took over at their own 20 after a 3 and out to start the game by the Stars. Within two plays, J’Mar Smith had his team at the Stars 42-yard line. An effective mix of the run and pass games brought the Stallions to the Stars 24 for a 3rd and 24. They went for Victor Boldin in the endzone but the ball was slightly overthrown and they had to settle for a 42-yard Brandon Aubrey field goal to make it 3-0 Stallions with 8:39 left in the opening quarter. The Stars would answer on their next drive with a 32 yard field goal by Luis Aguilar to tie the game at 3 with 3:49 to play.
A tremendous kickoff return by Victor Bolden put the ball at midfield for the Stallions to work with. A few plays into the drive it was Bo Scarbrough racing through the Stars defense for a 34-yard touchdown jaunt. He bounced off two tacklers 5 yards into the run, and then just floored it to the endzone from there. The Stallions had the ball twice in the first quarter, and scored both times.
Down 10-3, early into the second, the Stars began to put together a drive that saw them complete a 3rd and 16 down to the Stallions 25-yard line. It was the spark the Stars needed as their offense had looked just a big sluggish early. Then Case Cookus threw an absolutely beautiful over the shoulder touchdown pass to Jordan Suell from 25 yards out to score. The extra point attempt was blocked however and the game remained 10-9 Stallions.
Case Cookus, who gets married in less then two weeks, threw for 222 yards on 17 of 29 passing, with 3 touchdowns and no picks before getting knocked out of the game in the fourth. Jordan Suell finished with 5 catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns.
The Stallions were unfazed however and went right back to work as Smith Hooked up with his main threat Bolden and the drive was on past midfield just one play in. One play later, it was a 41-yard launch to Marlon Williams to stretch the Stallion lead to 17-9 Stallions with 7:13 to go in the first half. Smith went 10 of 18 for 131 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game dur to injury in the third quarter.
The Bo Scarbrough show continued on the next Stallions drive, as he took it 71 yards down the sidelines all the way to the Stars 10 as they approached the two minute warning. The Stallions drive would stall however and they would settle for a 28-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey as the first half came to a close with the Stallions up 20-9.
A screen pass to Dexter Williams that he took 34 yards, got the Stars moving early into the third quarter. One play later, it was another pass to Williams for 13 yards and the Stars were threatening to score inside the redzone. Dexter had a big night with 4 catches for 73 yards along with 8 carries for 29 yards.
On 3rd and goal from the five, it was Cookus doing it again, this time with his feet. He scrambled out of the pocket avoiding Scooby Wright and kept the play alive for another 4 seconds until he threw on the run to a wide-open Jordan Suell in the back of the endzone. The two point try was no good and the scored remained 20-15. The quarter would go on to end by that same score.
Early into the fourth, Cookus and the Stars were on the move again. This time, they were assisted by costly Stallion penalties. They made them pay for it again as Cookus nailed a 12 yard touchdown pass to Devin Gray to give the Stars their first lead of the game with 11:18 to play. The two pointer was converted, and it was 23-20 Philly as the upset was brewing.
If the Stallions were going to answer, they would need to do it with backup quarterback Alex McGough as starter J’Mar Smith remained sidelined with cramps. After a few drives went nowhere, the Stallions pieced together a good one that resulted in a Victor Bolden touchdown catch from 8 yards out with 3:09 left to play to reclaim the lead at 26-23.
As Case Cookus was knocked out of the game with injury, it was Scooby Wright ending it with a pick six off the backup KJ Costello with 2:53 left to play, putting them up 33-23. A last second Stars rally would fall short.
It was a wild final quarter that saw 28 total points as the Stallions claimed gold.
