The Philadelphia Stars (1-0) started the 2023 USFL season on Saturday afternoon at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium against the Memphis Showboats (0-1).
Philadelphia quarterback Case Cookus made his return for the first time since breaking his leg in the 2022 USFL Championship Game. He picked up right where he left off. However, the Stars’ defense started things off after Memphis won the coin toss.
Philadelphia’s defense made an early statement. Memphis faced 3rd and 7 as the 2022 interception leader Channing Stribling intercepted Brady White and returned it for 19 yards before getting tackled at the Stars’ 29-yard line.
Then, the Stars’ offense got to work. Quarterback Case Cookus threw a 35-yard pass to a leaping Corey Colman in between two Memphis defenders. Cookus threw two passes to Devin Gray for 20 yards, and a ten-yard pass to tight end Pro Wells to reach the Showboats six-yard line. Then, Cookus dropped back and found a wide-open Chris Rowland for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 6:25 left. The Stars’ offense had a nine-play drive for 71 yards.
Later in the first quarter, the Showboats responded when they went on an eight-play drive for 72 yards. The Stars’ defense bought Memphis quarterback Brady White’s pump fake for a 43-yard touchdown to Rashard Davis. The game was tied 7-7 with 1:01 left. The Stars had the ball on Memphis’s 39-yard line to begin the second quarter.
Case Cookus led Philadelphia on a ten-play drive for 56 yards that resulted in another touchdown. During this drive, Cookus was forcing throws and not throwing them out of bounds when there was no play to be made. The Stars even converted a fourth down play. When they got to the Memphis five-yard line, Cookus swung a pass to Matt Colburn II and he took it to the house for a touchdown. The Stars led 14-7 with 10:23 left.
Memphis’s running game got going on their next series. Running back Alex Collins had 15 rushing yards and a two-yard catch. After Philadelphia’s defense stopped the Showboats, Memphis kicker Alex Kessman missed a 48-yard field goal to remain a 14-7 Stars lead.
On the Stars’ next drive, Case Cookus threw a 16-yard pass to Corey Colman at the Showboats’ 46-yard line. Philadelphia got into some trouble with a delay of game penalty on Cookus plus sacks by the Showboats’ defense. However, they caught a break on third and long when Cookus was horse collared by Jeremiah Valoaga for an automatic first down.
Philadelphia capitalized the drive when Dexter Williams bulldozed a couple of Memphis players on his way to a 12-yard touchdown. The Stars’ offensive line also did a great job opening the hole for Williams. The extra point was blocked by Memphis and it was now 20-7 with 1:55 left. The Stars’ drive went eight plays for 62 yards.
Late in the first half, Memphis kicker Alex Kessman made a 28-yard field goal, cutting Philadelphia’s lead to 20-10. With ten seconds left, Stars’ kicker Luis Aguilar’s 50-yard field goal attempt was blocked and the Stars led 20-10 at halftime. Case Cookus in the first half was 14/19 for 155 yards, and two touchdowns, while Chris Rowland had two catches for 20 yards, one touchdown, three carries for 31 yards, and two kick returns for 75 yards.
In the third quarterback, Memphis made it an interesting game. After the Stars punted the ball, Memphis quarterback Brady White led the Showboats to a seven-play drive for 81 yards. He connected to Ryan McDaniel for a 29-yard touchdown. It was now 20-17 Stars with 6:26 left.
The Stars responded on their next drive. On the fifth play, Cookus found Devin Gray for 17 yards. The two would connect again five plays later as Cookus absorbed a hit just when he threw a 14-yard touchdown to Gray. It was now 27-17 with 13 seconds left. The drive went for ten plays for 65 yards. The Stars led 27-17 after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, Memphis did not go away as running back Alex Collins had four carries for 15 yards, including a one-yard rushing touchdown. Memphis kicker Alex Kessman missed the extra point. It was now 27-23 with 7:24 left.
After several punts by both teams, Memphis got the ball on the last drive of the game. Quarterback Brady White completed a five-yard pass to Ryan McDaniel on the Stars’ 39-yard line before spiking the ball on second down. Philadelphia’s defense came up big with two big stops and the Stars held on to a 27-23 win over the Memphis Showboats.
Philadelphia quarterback Case Cookus completed 20 of 29 passes (69%) for 212 yards, three touchdowns, and seven carries for 31 yards. Running back Matt Colburn II had five carries for 30 yards, two catches for 14 yards, and one touchdown.
Wide receiver Devin Gray had a nice afternoon with seven catches for 77 yards and one touchdown. Philadelphia’s defense allowed 295 yards, with 58 tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception, and four pass breakups.
Memphis quarterback Brady White completed 16 of 29 passes (55.1%) for 182 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and four carries for 29 yards. Running back Alex Collins had 14 carries for 63 yards, one touchdown, and five catches for 25 yards.
Wide receiver Rashard Davis had two catches for 75 yards and one touchdown. Memphis’s defense allowed 281 yards, with 63 tackles, five sacks, six tackles for loss, and one pass breakup.
Philadelphia plays the Michigan Panthers next Sunday at 7 pm on FS1, while Memphis visits the Birmingham Stallions next Saturday at 7 pm on FOX. Tickets for both games are available on StubHub and Viagogo.
