Notes, quotes and numbers from Birmingham’s 28-12 victory over Pittsburgh in the 2023 United States Football League Championship Game …
HOW THEY SCORED
Pittsburgh (5-7) got the ball first on the opening kickoff and proceeded to move deep into Birmingham (10-2) territory, but had to settle for Chris Blewitt’s 37-yard field goal at 5:27 of the first quarter, making it 3-0.
The drive covered 60 yards on 16 plays.
The Stallions took the lead at 10:39 of the second quarter when Alex McGough hit Davion Davis on a 42-yard TD strike to highlight a six play, 70-yard march.
Brandon Aubrey kicked the score to 7-3.
The Maulers closed the gap to 7-6 when Blewitt made a 35-yard field goal 3:01 before halftime. They used 13 plays to advance 47 yards.
The Stallions then worked the two-minute drill to perfection and hit paydirt when McGough found Deon Cain on a three-yard touchdown pass at :31 of the second, highlighting a seven play, 68-yard trek.
Aubrey’s PAT made it 14-6.
Blewitt, however, continued to keep his team in the game, nailing a 55-yard field goal on the last play of the half to trim the deficit to 14-9.
Pittsburgh managed just 12 yards in five snaps, but it was good enough to put Blewitt in range.
Birmingham made it a two-score game on the opening drive of the third quarter, going 83 yards on eight plays with a McGough to Cain 20-yard connection resulting in six points at 10:29.
The PAT gave the Stallions some breathing room, 21-9.
It was 21-12 after Blewitt did his thing again, drilling a 51-yard field goal at 7:45 of the third to make something out of a five play, 20-yard trip.
A McGough fumble forced by Reuben Foster and advanced 60 yards by Olive Sagapolu put the Maulers in good shape at the enemy 33 late in the third quarter, but the defense stiffened and Blewitt was called on again.
This time he missed from 48 yards, and the lead remained nine.
The Stallions put the game away with 6:28 to play.
Scrambling out of trouble, McGough unloaded a 40-yard TD pass to Cain to wrap up a two play, 40-yard drive.
Aubrey kicked true, and it was 28-12.
BIRMINGHAM COACH SKIP HOLTZ SAID …
“The bottom line is the players bought into it. That’s why it worked. A lot of people say, ‘1-0,’ but these players bought into it. And that’s why it worked. Wow, 10-2 … pretty special.”
PITTSBURGH COACH RAY HORTON SAID …
“I apologized to them. I didn’t get them where they expected me to get them. I did tell them that this team is one of the best teams in the league. They’re only going to get better. We’re missing a couple ingredients that we will get and we will find, and they will be smarter players next year because they understand the system … they understand our expectations. We’re not the laughingstock of the league anymore. This is a team that’s going to be a force to reckoned with.”
STANDOUT STATS
For Birmingham, McGough was 17-25-0 for 243 yards and four touchdowns, and also rushed for 64 yards.
“I think he’s really he’s really talented and yes, I do believe that he is capable of being an NFL quarterback,” Holtz said.
Cain, who earned championship game MVP honors, had four catches for three touchdowns and 70 yards and 101 return yards. Jace Sternberger reeled in three receptions for 65 yards and Davis had a TD and 55 yards on three catches.
“It’s just a blessing to be honored with this trophy, but I couldn’t do it without my teammates or my coaches,” Cain said. “I just had to make the plays. It’s a lot of hard work and tears behind this trophy.”
The winners piled up 357 yards of total offense.
JoJo Tillery finished with eight tackles (six solo) while Lorenzo Burns was in on seven tackles and had six individual takedowns.
Blewitt accounted for all of Pittsburgh’s points.
Troy Williams was 24-37-0 for 143 yards and Isiah Hennie had eight catches for 55 yards.
Kyahva Tezino had nine solo tackles and 10 in all.
EXPECTED SUCCESS
Championships are always sweet, but this one was a bit different for linebacker Scooby Wright.
“It’s kind of a weird feeling,” he said. “It’s almost like it was expected because we did it last year, so things aren’t as sweet as they are the first time, but the next one is always just as important.
“It doesn’t feel like the same as it did last year because we expected it this year.”
NEXT UP
The city of Birmingham will have a parade for the Stallions Sunday starting at Protective Stadium and ending at City Hall. It begins at 2:30 p.m.