On Saturday afternoon at Legion Field, the Philadelphia Stars (6-4) four-game winning streak ended with a 26-23 loss to the New Jersey Generals (9-1) in the final week of the USFL season. Both teams rested some of their key players ahead of their playoff game next week.
New Jersey got the ball to start the game. It took three plays for them to find the endzone when running back Trey Williams took off for a 61-yard touchdown, putting the Generals up 7-0. On the Stars’ first possession of the game, they took it down to New Jersey’s 20-yard line before Luis Aguilar made a 38-yard field goal, cutting the General’s lead 7-3 with 10:19 left.
On New Jersey’s next possession, they took a lot of time off the clock and scored another touchdown. They went on a 13-play drive for 90 yards that lasted eight minutes and twelve seconds when quarterback Luis Perez threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Alonzo Moore. Moore had Amani Dennis on him and still made the catch for the touchdown, adding to the Generals lead 14-3.
The Stars got the ball with 2:02 left in the first quarter but could not move it down the field and punted it back to New Jersey. The Generals had the ball to start the second quarter.
New Jersey took control of the clock on their next drive. They had the ball for over nine minutes, and the Stars’ defense stopped them on fourth down with 5:55 left in the second quarter.
After the Stars’ defense made that essential stop, the offense went back on the field and scored a touchdown. The Stars took the ball down to the Generals’ three-yard line. Case Cookus made a nice throw to a jumping Jordan Suell with David Rivers III on him for the touchdown, and the Stars were right back in the game 14-10 with 38-seconds left in the second quarter. The Generals took a knee to end the first half up 14-10.
In the third quarter, the Stars found the endzone for the second time and took their first lead of the game. Stars’ quarterback Case Cookus set up a screenplay, waiting for the Generals to get near him, and he threw the ball to Chris Rowland, who made a couple of nice moves to find the endzone for a 19-yard touchdown. The Stars led 17-14. However, it didn’t last long.
The Generals took it down to the Stars’ two-yard line, and quarterback Luis Perez threw to a wide-open Darius Victor for an easy touchdown. However, kicker Caden Novikoff missed the extra point, and the Generals led 20-17 with 5:57 left in the third quarter. The Stars got the ball back and made progress but not enough to get a score, and Aguilar punted the ball back to the Generals.
The Generals had the ball to begin the fourth quarter. They took it down the field and added another touchdown. The Stars were ready to blitz Generals’ quarterback Luis Perez when Perez spotted it and threw a deep pass to Alonzo Moore for the second time for a 25-yard touchdown. However, the Stars blocked the extra point. Still, the Generals led 26-17 with 12:12 left in the game.
Moving ahead in the action, the Stars got back into the game with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter. Stars’ running back Matt Colburn II made a couple of juke moves and scored a 15-yard rushing touchdown. Trailing by three, the Stars went for a three-point conversion, but Case Cookus threw an interception, and the Generals were ahead 26-23.
Philadelphia elected to go for a fourth-and-twelfth play. Initially, they did not get it, but a penalty on New Jersey’s secondary gave the Stars an automatic first down. However, Case Cookus overthrew his receiver Chris Rowland, and the pass was intercepted by Shalom Luani, ending the game. The Generals won the game 26-23 and finished the season on a nine-game winning streak.
While it was nice to see the Stars make a comeback, they have a lot of work to do if they want a chance to advance to the championship game. While it was understandable for the Stars’ starters to play, they should’ve had them play no more than the first half and given guys like backup quarterback K.J. Costello and others a chance to play and save their starters for the playoffs.
Quarterback Case Cookus was 19/33 for 243 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and four carries for 33 yards. He needs to get that rhythm back that he had against Michigan two weeks ago when Philly put 46 points on the board. They are going to need that Cookus. If they get that Cookus next week, they will have a chance.
Meanwhile, Matt Colburn II had ten carries for 39 yards, one touchdown, and two catches for 23 yards, while Jonathan Howard led the receivers with five catches for 100 yards. The Stars’ defense allowed 410 yards, 61 tackles, two sacks, and pass breakups.
Generals’ quarterback Luis Perez was 14/18 for 138 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Meanwhile, quarterback De’Andre Thompson was 8/10 for 112 yards and four carries for 33 yards. Unfortunately, Thompson got injured in the game and did not return. The Generals could’ve saved Thompson for next week and had Kyle Lauletta play the game.
Meanwhile, Trey Williams led the rushers with 11 carries for 114 yards and one touchdown, while Alonzo Moore led the receivers with seven catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns. History was made for the Generals as KaVontae Turpin became the first wide receiver to get 500 yards in a season with five catches for 68 yards. The Generals’ defense allowed 327 yards, 45 tackles, one interception, and nine pass breakups.
The Stars and Generals will go at it one more at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, for the playoffs next Sunday at 3 pm on FOX. The winner will play in the USFL Championship Game. Tickets for the game can be purchased thanks to our friends at StubHub.
