The second incarnation of the United States Football League launched in 2022, but this Sunday’s clash with the Pittsburgh Maulers in Canton, Ohio, will mark the first regular season game the Birmingham Stallions have played on the road.
Another first?
The defending USFL champions find themselves somewhere other than first place in their division.
With a 45-31 loss to New Orleans in Week Three, Birmingham now sits at 2-1 on the season while the Breakers move to the top of the South Division at 3-0.
“I’ve made this comment before … I don’t mind losing a football game if we can grow from it, as long as we can learn something from it,” Stallions coach Skip Holtz said following last week’s contest. “And hopefully there were many lessons to be learned from (the New Orleans game). I’m still proud of these players, proud of what they’ve done so far this year … we’ve just got to keep going. It’s a long season.
“You don’t get any points for being 3-0, you get points for being in the playoffs, and that’s the goal.”
To get back on track, his charges will have to beat a Maulers team that snapped a seven-game losing skid with a 21-13 victory over the Philadelphia Stars.
Pittsburgh is 1-2 on the season and in third place in the North Division.
“I think rhythm – whether it’s dance or music – you feel the rhythm, and to me we just had a different look throughout the week,” Maulers coach Ray Horton said after his club’s first “W” of 2023. “The players took ownership of what we’re doing.”
Special teams play was the headline for Pittsburgh, as kicker Chris Blewitt went five-for-five from field goal range, including a 50-yarder.
His performance came just three days after being signed by the team.
Former Alabama standout Reuben Foster (who was placed on the inactive roster Friday) led the Maulers’ defense with 11 tackles and an interception.
Blewitt earned USFL Special Teams Player of the Week honors while Foster was named Defensive Player of the Week.
QB Troy Williams was 10-18-0 for 96 yards and a touchdown.
“Defense has been lights out all year, and that gives the offense confidence,” Williams said. “We have to continue to progress and get better each week.”
The Maulers have a league-best 31 kicking points, and their punt return average of 21.3 yards is also No. 1 in the circuit.
Holtz said challenging Pittsburgh at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium instead of Protective Stadium isn’t his main concern.
“I’m more worried about what goes on in between the lines than playing on the road,” he said. “We played on the road in Canton last year … we played two games in that stadium a year ago. I know the fans won’t be on our side, but the field is still 53 and a third (wide) and 120 long, and I’m worried about what goes on inside those lines. You’re only as good as your last outing in this game.
“We scored points, but there is no moral victory. We’ll have to play better up front.”
A week after a 42-2 rout of Memphis, the Stallions allowed 483 yards against New Orleans, including 200 on the ground.
The team also took a step back in its rushing game, netting just 46 yards.
The bright spots in Week Three came in the passing game.
Alex McGough was 17-26-1 for 238 yards and two touchdowns, while Davion Davis caught five balls for 123 yards and a TD and Jace Sternberger added another receiving TD.
McGough leads the USFL in passing touchdowns (seven) and points (48).
Birmingham scored on the opening kickoff thanks to an 82-yard return by Deon Cain, who tops the league in kick return yards with 324.
But Sunday is a new day and a new opportunity for both teams. The Stallions are hoping to resume their winning ways, while Pittsburgh is aiming to make it two in a row for the first time since USFL 2.0 began play.
“I hope the guys trust and believe in the process of what we’re doing,” Horton said. “We’ll be playing Birmingham, and it offers a chance to do something different with what they bring to the table. It’s about trust and belief.”
The game kicks off at 5:30 p.m. CDT with FS1 providing TV coverage.
Player status (via Stallions Twitter)
Transferred player to active roster: WR Josh Johnson, LB Scooby Wright, DE Joe Ozougwu, TE Thaddeus Moss.
Transferred player to inactive roster: WR Michael Dereus, OLB Elijah Sullivan, WR Myron Mitchell.
Game status report: S JoJo Tillery: Out (b ankles), DL Joe Jackson: Out (r ankle), LB Scooby Wright: Probable (b calves), G Matt Kaskey: Probable (r thumb), OL O’Shea Dugas: Probable (r knee), TE La’Michael Pettway: Probable (l foot), S Christian McFarland: Full Go (r hamstring, r shoulder), OL Darius Harper: Full Go (l shoulder), S T.J. Carter: Full Go (l hamstring), CB Donnie Lewis II: Full Go (l hamstring).