On Sunday afternoon at Protective Stadium, the Philadelphia Stars (2-3) had a chance to make a statement against the last undefeated team in the USFL, the Birmingham Stallions (5-0).
The Stars’ offense got off to a terrific start on the first series of the game. Stars’ running back Paul Terry started the game with a 43-yard run, putting the Stars on the Stallions’ 32-yard line. Terry also caught a pass from Case Cookus that went 23-yards, setting the Stars up on the Stallions’ nine-yard line. The Stars would score a touchdown on a two-yard run by Matt Colburn II. New Stars’ kicker Luis Aguilar made the extra point, and the Stars led 7-0.
After a couple of punts by both teams, the Stallions tied the game late in the first quarter. The Stars’ defense was having problems tackling. The Stallions ran eleven plays for 61-yards that ended when Stallions’ quarterback Alex McGough threw a 17-yard touchdown to Michael Dereus, that tied the game 7-7.
On the next Stars’ possession, they marched down to take the lead. Stars’ quarterback Case Cookus threw three great passes to Bug Howard (33-yards), Jordan Suell (4-yards), and Chris Rowland (15-yards), leading to a nine-yard rushing touchdown by Paul Terry that made it 14-7 Stars. The offense was doing a good job protecting Cookus, allowing him to make big plays.
The Stars’ defense got the ball back on the following Stallions possession. Stallions’ quarterback Alex McGough’s pass was intercepted by Amani Dennis, putting the Stars on the Stallions’ 36-yard line. The Stars’ offense made little progress but came away with three points on a 49-yard field goal by Luis Aguilar for a 17-7 lead.
The Stars were shut out the rest of the game, and the Stallions took over. The Stars’ defense could not stop Birmingham on the next drive. The Stallions made a quarterback change with J’Mar Smith for Alex McGough. Smith led the Stallions on a seven-play drive for 75-yards, ending with Smith throwing a 38-yard touchdown pass to Marlon Williams, cutting the Stars lead 17-14. The defense continued to let the Stallions’ offense do whatever they wanted.
On the next Stars possession, quarterback Case Cookus did not see DeMarquis Gates coming after him, and Cookus fumbled the ball, resulting in a turnover recovered by Birmingham. However, just before halftime, Stallions’ kicker Brandon Aubrey missed a 23-yard field, and the Stars held on to a 17-14 lead.
In the second half, the Stallions started to pull away. On the first drive of the third quarter, the Stallions marched down on a six-play, 67-yard drive that ended with a 29-yard rushing touchdown by CJ Marable, putting Birmingham up 21-17.
The Stars’ offense struggled in the second half. They punted on their first series in the third quarter. Then, the Stars’ defense created a turnover, giving the Stars’ offense another chance. However, they couldn’t move the ball and punted it again.
The Stallions made it 24-17 with 28-seconds left on a 45-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey. Just before the third quarter ended, Stars’ running back Matt Colburn II fumbled the ball that Birmingham recovered. The Stallions led 24-17 after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, the Stallions added another touchdown. The Stars’ defense made a key stop on third down. However, Stars’ defensive back Ahmad Dixon was called for roughing the kicker, making it first down Birmingham.
The Stallions took their time getting to the endzone, with quarterback J’Mar Smith rushing for a two-yard touchdown, making it 31-17. It was an 18-play, 61-yards that took ten minutes and twenty-eight seconds off the clock, leaving the Stars with 41-seconds left.
The Stars’ offense didn’t do much, and the Stallions won the game 31-17. The Stars continue to shoot themselves in the foot with turnovers and penalties. It was a disappointing game considering the Stars’ offense started strong but fell flat later in the game.
The Stars’ defense, while at times made some key stops, continues to give up the big plays, and that’s something they can’t keep doing if they want a shot at the USFL title.
Stars’ quarterback Case Cookus went 19/35 for 215-yards while running back Paul Terry led the team in both rushing and receiving with two carries for 52-yards, one touchdown, and five catches for 43-yards. The Stars’ defense allowed 377-yards, 86 tackles, four sacks, one interception, and three pass breakups.
Birmingham Stallions’ quarterback J’Mar Smith went 17/22 for 203-yards, one touchdown, one carry for two yards, and one touchdown. Stallions’ quarterback Alex McGough was 4/11 for 50-yards, one touchdown, one interception, and four carries for 14-yards.
Stallions’ running back CJ Marable had 23 carries for 114-yards, one touchdown, and two catches for 17-yards, while wide receiver Marlon Williams had five catches for 74-yards and one touchdown. The Stallions’ defense allowed 253-yards, 42 tackles, three sacks, and five pass breakups.
Next Saturday, the Philadelphia Stars battle the Tampa Bay Bandits at 1 pm on NBC, followed by the Birmingham Stallions against the Michigan Panthers at 7:30 pm on NBC. Tickets for both games can be purchased thanks to our friends at StubHub.
