Notes and quotes from Birmingham’s wild 27-24 victory over Philadelphia today at Protective Stadium …
HOW THEY SCORED
Philadelphia (4-4) sliced through the Birmingham (6-2) defense on the game’s opening drive, going 59 yards in nine plays and hitting paydirt when Case Cookus found Ryan Izzo on a one-yard scoring pass at 10:14 of the opening frame.
Luis Aguilar kicked the PAT, making it 7-0.
The Stallions answered back with an 11 play, 72-yard march. The highlight was Alex McGough scrambling out of trouble and throwing back to the middle of the field, connecting with Davion Davis on a 17-yard TD strike at 4:05 of the first.
Brandon Aubrey kicked the extra point to even things up at 7-all.
McGough completed six passes for 66 yards during the series.
Philly took the lead again just 47 seconds before the close of the first half.
A McGough fumble at his own 46 with 2:08 left in the second put the Stars in business, and they traveled 47 yards in five plays. Cookus threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Corey Coleman for six, and Aguilar’s point after put the tally at 14-7.
Birmingham received to start the second half, and the kickoff went out of bounds, by rule placing the ball at midfield.
The home team got as close as the visitor 12, but had to settle for a 30-yard Aubrey field goal at the 10:54 mark. That trimmed the deficit to 14-10.
After their defense made a stop, the Stallions offense got busy moving the markers. However, C.J. Marable fumbled at the Stars four, and Joel Dublanko’s recovery ended the threat.
But Birmingham wouldn’t be deterred, and after another stop the offense heated up. A McGough to Davis pass covering 71 yards (and accounting for the second longest pass play in the league this year) put the ball at the 10.
On a third down play from the same spot, McGough fired a rocket to Jace Sternberger for a TD pass at 14:55 of the fourth.
The kick was good, and the nine play, 83-yard trek ended with a 17-14 Stallions advantage.
The Stars, however, didn’t fold.
Their offense also found a spark, and they got all the way down to the seven. But the Birmingham resistance stiffened from there, holding Philly to a 25-yard field goal at 7:25 that tied the score at 17-17.
Back came the Stallions.
A 29-yard McGough to Sternberger connection put the hosts in scoring range, and Aubrey did the honors, drilling a 41-yard field goal 4:35 from the end of regulation to make it 20-17.
A good kickoff return resulted in Philadelphia scrimmaging at its own 48 at the fourth’s 4:28 juncture.
A 28-yard pass from Cookus to Devin Gray put the ball at the 24, and then a 24-yard toss to Gray made it first and goal at the seven.
From there Cookus rolled out and found Dexter Williams for a score at 3:05 of the fourth.
After three plays and 52 yards, the kick put the Stars ahead, 24-20.
That gave the Stallions time for a potential game-winning junket, and they delivered the goods.
After starting at their 35, they advanced to the Philly 37 after three plays (and at the two-minute warning).
With 39 seconds left, a 23-yard pass to Sternberger placed the ball at the 12, first-and-10.
A reception by Deon Cain moved the ball to the seven with :32 on the game clock.
One play later, McGough threw seven-yard TD pass to La’Michael Pettway – just his second catch of the game – with 28 seconds to play.
Aubrey kicked the lead to 27-24, putting the finishing touches on a memorable nine play, 65-yard march.
The Stars had less than half a minute to win or tie, and a last gasp pass was intercepted by Nate Brooks to seal the deal.
BIRMINGHAM COACH SKIP HOLTZ SAID …
“What a great football game between two teams that you knew were going to compete and both wanting to win. Just really a lot of fun to be part of it and I’m proud of our team, proud of how they competed, proud of the way they hung in there. It was a total team win. It’s just a joy for me to have the opportunity to watch them. I’m just calling the plays … these guys go execute. They were fun to watch.”
PHILADELPHIA COACH BART ANDRUS SAID …
“That was a heck of a game. We fell short and scored too soon at the end. Should’ve taken more clock there, but you take what you can get and we didn’t want to hold back. These are two good football teams. They’ve got good players and they play together. If we can win a couple more, we may see them again.”
STANDOUT STATS
McGough was 24-35-0 passing for 333 yards and three touchdowns, and also scrambled for 25 yards.
“I’m giving everything I’ve got to the guys, and I just appreciate everybody else giving me everything they have,” McGough said. “And I think that’s the only way you win – the only way you succeed.”
Davis had four catches for 120 yards and a TD.
Willie Yarbary was in on six tackles and recorded a sack.
Cookus was 20-32-1 for 265 yards and three scores, with Coleman catching four balls totaling 107 yards and a TD,
Joey Alfieri had seven solo tackles and was in on three more for Philly.
TODAY IN HISTORY
On this day in 1974 the Birmingham Americans of the World Football League announced they had signed Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro defensive end L.C. Greenwood to a “futures” contract. Greenwood was to play out his option with the Steelers in 1974 and join the WFL team for the 1975 season. (Spoiler alert: he did not).
On June 3, 1984, the Birmingham Stallions lost to the Arizona Wranglers, 38-28, in front of 32,500 fans at Legion Field. Joe Cribbs, who rejoined the team after being away for 17 days due to a contract dispute, rushed for 110 yards on 16 carries. That gave him a USFL-best 1,280 rushing yards.
On June 3, 1985, the Stallions nipped the Houston Gamblers, 29-27, before 13,202 fans at the Astrodome. Birmingham QB Cliff Stoudt threw for 133 yards and rushed for 50 more and a touchdown to help the Stallions improve to 11-4 and clinch a playoff spot.
NEXT UP
The Stallions finish their regular season with a two-game set at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis. First up is a showdown against the Houston Gamblers on Sunday, June 11, at 1 p.m. on NBC/Peacock.