The Philadelphia Stars (4-3) closed out Week 7 at Protective Stadium on Sunday night with a 35-24 win over the Houston Gamblers (1-6). It was the Stars’ second straight win and with the losses of both the Pittsburgh Maulers and Michigan Panthers. The Stars are in the driver’s seat for the final playoff spot in the North Division.
The Stars’ offense got off to a rocky start in the first quarter. On the first play of the game, the Gamblers’ defense blitzed, and quarterback Case Cookus threw the ball as he was getting hit, but it was intercepted by Donald Payne and returned for a 39-yard touchdown putting the Gamblers up 7-0.
Meanwhile, the Stars’ defense was having trouble stopping the Gamblers’ running back, Mark Thompson. A mixture of runs and short passes led the Gamblers to the Stars’ 18-yard line. However, the Stars’ defense pulled through, making three stops, and the Gamblers settled for a field goal to take a 10-0 lead.
Late in the first quarter, the Stars started to get going. Case Cookus and Matt Colburn II led the way to get the Stars down to Houston’s 18-yard line and settled for a 35-yard field goal made by Luis Aguilar, cutting the Gamblers’ lead 10-3.
In the second quarter, the Gamblers were on their 15-yard line. The Stars’ defense got to Quarterback Clayton Thorson with a sack by Freedom Akinmoladun, pinning the Gamblers on their seven-yard line. Philadelphia’s special teams stepped up on fourth down with Bug Howard blocking a punt that put the Stars on the Gamblers’ 18-yard line.
However, they could not take advantage of the field position and settled for another field goal. Luis Aguilar made a 30-yard field goal, making it a four-point game 10-6.
After the Stars’ defense stopped the Gamblers, the offense was back out on the field. Stars running back Matt Colburn II led the way with a couple of carries for 17 yards and a catch for three yards. Stars’ running back Darnell Holland played a huge role in the series with a breakout 36-yard run. The Stars got to the Gamblers’ four-yard before Matt Colburn finished it off with a four-yard touchdown, giving the Stars a 13-10 lead.
The Stars’ defense went back out and got the ball back. Gamblers’ quarterback Clayton Thorson was attempting a pass when he got hit by James Crawford, who recovered the ball on the Stars’ 44-yard line. However, the Stars gave it right back when Case Cookus threw his second interception by Donald Payne.
Houston quarterback Clayton Thorson led the Gamblers’ drive with a big play to tight end Julian Allen for 24-yards, followed by a six-yard touchdown run by Gamblers’ backup quarterback Kenji Bahar, giving the Gamblers a 17-13 lead at halftime.
Before the third quarter got underway, Gamblers’ backup quarterback Kenji Bahar played the rest of the way after Clayton Thorson suffered an arm injury late in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, the Gamblers added to their lead. Kenji Bahar drove Houston down to the Stars’ 11-yard line before running back Mark Thompson finished the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run, extending Houston’s lead 24-13.
It looked like the Stars were out of it. On their next possession, they could not convert a fourth-and-one, giving the ball back to the Gamblers. The Stars’ defense came through to stop Houston’s offense, forcing them to punt the ball. The Gamblers led 24-13, with the Stars having the ball to begin the fourth quarter on the Gamblers’ 39-yard line.
In the fourth quarter, the Stars quickly scored a touchdown. Quarterback Case Cookus escaped the rush and threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Suell, cutting the Gamblers’ lead 24-20.
The Gamblers responded by marching down to the Stars’ 31-yard line, but kicker Nick Vogel missed a 49-yard field goal, giving the Stars the ball back on their 39-yard line.
The Stars went on a ten-play drive for 61-yards to take the lead. Case Cookus and Marcus Colburn II led the way, with Cookus running for 29-yards to the Gamblers’ 19-yard line. Stars’ running back Darnell Holland took care of the rest with a three-yard touchdown run, putting Philadelphia up 27-24.
On the next Gamblers possession, the Stars’ defense made a statement. Houston quarterback, Kenji Bahar’s pass was intercepted by Channing Stribling and returned for a touchdown. However, the touchdown was called back when the Stars were penalized for a blind side block. It was Stribling’s fifth interception of the season, which leads the USFL.
Then, the Stars started to force the Gamblers to use their timeouts with less than three minutes left. Stars kicker Luis Aguilar made a 33-yard field goal for a 30-24 lead.
On the Gamblers’ next possession, the Stars’ defense got the ball back when Adam Rodriguez stripped the ball away from Kenji Bahar and was recovered by Ralph Holley. The Stars’ offense were able to get Houston to burn its last time out before Luis Aguilar made a 41-yard field for a 33-24 lead.
On the game’s final play, Adam Rodriguez sacked Kenji Bahar in the endzone for a safety, giving the Stars a 35-24 win.
Stars’ quarterback Case Cookus finished the game 21/31 for 163-yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and three carries for 28-yards. Running backs Marcus Colburn II and Darnell Holland combined for 28 carries for 124-yards, and two touchdowns, while wide receiver Jordan Suell had seven catches for 72-yards and one touchdown. The Stars’ defense allowed 200 yards, 63 tackles, five sacks, one interception, and four pass breakups.
Gamblers’ quarterback Kenji Bhar finished the night 10/13 for 101-yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Running back, Mark Thompson had 13 carries for 47-yards, and one touchdown, while wide receiver Teo Redding had four catches for 58-yards. The Gamblers’ defense allowed 315-yards, 67 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups, and one touchdown.
Next week, the Philadelphia Stars battle the Michigan Panthers on Sunday at noon on FOX, while the Houston Gamblers play the Tampa Bay Bandits on Sunday at 4 pm on Peacock. Tickets for both games can be purchased thanks to our friends at StubHub.
