Notes, quotes and random thoughts from Birmingham’s 27-10 win over New Jersey … and other USFL stuff, too.
HOW THEY SCORED
Birmingham struck paydirt on its first play from scrimmage following a fumble. J’Mar Smith dropped back to pass at his own 39 and hit UAB product Austin Watkins on a 61-yard TD play, one that saw Watkins stretch for the catch at the 5-yard line and roll into the end zone following a fingertip grab.
Brandon Aubrey’s kick made it 7-0.
Generals’ backup QB Dakota Prukop put his team on the board next in the second quarter with a 2-yard run over left guard, and Nick Sciba toed the PAT to tie things up at 7-all. It capped off a nine-play drive that covered 61 yards.
Birmingham regained the lead on the ensuing march when Aubrey nailed a 23-yard field goal after a Stallions’ drive stalled, making it 10-7.
A goal line stand forced a turnover on downs and prevented the Generals from moving ahead before halftime, allowing Birmingham to take over at its own one with 3:20 left before intermission.
However, D.J. Daniel picked off a Smith pass at the Stallions 14, and the visitors were back in business, but only briefly.
The Birmingham defense tightened, and held Jersey to a 25-yard field goal that put things even again at 10-10.
The Stallions only had 1:21 to run their two-minute drill, but that’s all they needed as Alex McGough stepped in and fired a six-yard scoring toss to Jace Sternberger on his first throw of the night with just :04 left on the second quarter clock.
The kick was good, and the Protective Stadium tenants were ahead 17-10 at halftime.
McGough was at it again in the third quarter, this time with his legs.
Engineering a two play, 40-yard mini-drive, the signal caller finished things off with a hard-charging, tackle-breaking 29-yard TD run.
The kick made it 24-10, and the Generals were on the ropes.
Birmingham added insurance with just 6:49 left on the game clock with a 49-yard field goal, upping the ante to 27-10 and sending some fans heading for the exits.
ORIGINAL STALLIONS HONORED
Those of us who followed the first iteration of Birmingham Stallions got a blast from the past Saturday when four of their former players were honored before the game. Receiver Joey Jones, offensive guard Buddy Aydelette, defensive lineman Jackie Cline and linebacker Herb Spencer were reintroduced to Birmingham football fans, along with team president Jerry Sklar.
Aydelette was a USFL all-star during all three of the Stallions’ seasons (1983-85).
INJURY WOES
Smith injured his finger – which paved the way for McGough’s appearance – and there were several other Stallions worse for wear when the game ended, including linebacker Scooby Wright. The most serious injury was to receiver Marlon Williams, who suffered a torn Achilles.
“We’ve got more depth on this team this year than last, and we’re gonna need it,” Stallions coach Skip Holtz said. “I grabbed (general manger) Zach Potter and said, ‘We’ve got to talk.’ We may be on the free agent hunt to find some guys to fill the roster so we have enough guys to practice at the level we want to practice.”
ALL FOR ONE
McGough and Smith are both competitors, but they’re also friends who cheer each other on. McGough said that’s the way it’s been the whole time they’ve been teammates.
“We both know that if he’s in there, he’s gonna do good and if I’m in there, I’m gonna do good,” McGough said. “There’s no competition in that sense. There’s love and respect, and you see it down on the field. J’Mar hurt his hand and coach told me to be ready and I was ready.”
McGough was 7-11-0 passing for 68 yards and a TD, and ran for 51 yards and a score to lead Birmingham’s ground game.
Smith finished 10-15-1 for 160 yards and a touchdown.
TODAY IN HISTORY
The original Stallions played the Michigan Panthers on April 15, 1984, at the Pontiac Silverdome before 42,655 fans. Birmingham won, 28-17, to improve to 7-1 in their second USFL season. Stallions quarterback Cliff Stoudt – in his first year with the club after playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers and backing up Terry Bradshaw for seven years – threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another.
That was also the same day the New York Times proved to be harbingers of the league’s ultimate doom. The paper reported that – based on conversations with two “prominent USFL executives” – the league would play spring seasons in 1985 and 1986 and move to a fall schedule for 1987.
Commissioner Chet Simmons told the Times a possible shift to fall had been discussed at length.
“But this is a league of very prudent businessmen, who will look at all reasonable opportunities that may be made available to us,” Simmons said.
Yeah, about that …
TODAY IN HISTORY: PART 2
The Birmingham Fire played the London Monarchs on April 15, 1991, losing 27-0 before 18,512 fans at Legion Field in a World League of American Football game. The Fire were outgained 404 yards to 112, dropping to 1-3 on the season.
DÉJÀ VU
The Memphis Showboats made their United States Football League debut Saturday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, dropping a 27-23 decision to the Philadelphia Stars in a contest that kicked off the circuit’s 2023 campaign. Case Cookus led the winners with 212 yards and three touchdowns on 20 of 29 passing.
The original Showboats also played their first USFL game against another version of the Stars back in 1984, falling to Philly, 17-9, in front of 28,898 fans at what was then known as the Liberty Bowl.
While the franchise 39 years ago was a pure expansion team – the USFL grew from 12 to 18 teams in its second season – the modern Showboats are a rebrand of the 2022 Tampa Bay Bandits.
ATTENDANCE
The USFL doesn’t release attendance figures, and I’m terrible at making guesses, but the Protective Stadium crowd seemed to be around 18,000.
Holtz appreciates every one of them.
“The crowd was great and hopefully we can continue to build on it,” he said. “I told the team at the end of the game I want them to get to the locker room so I can talk to them, but it’s hard for me to pull my players away from the fan base. They’re all on the wall signing autographs and pictures. We’re so appreciative of the way the people support us, chanting for the defense … the crowd was awesome. I’d love to see it just continue to build.
“It’s professional football in Alabama. Come support it.”