Stars survive a ‘clunker,’ escape with win vs. Maulers
By Eric D. Williams
FOX Sports activities Author
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Particular groups for the Pittsburgh Maulers put them in place to win the sport early on.
Nevertheless, late-game miscues within the all-important third section of the sport led to Pittsburgh’s demise, because the workforce as soon as once more discovered a technique to lose — this one a 17-16 setback to the Philadelphia Stars on Sunday at Protecting Stadium.
Maulers kicker Ramiz Ahmed pushed a 49-yard subject objective extensive proper with 58 seconds left that may have gained the sport. Ahmed additionally missed an additional level, ensuing within the one-point loss for Pittsburgh.
The Stars earned their fourth straight win, bettering to 6-3 on the yr. Philadelphia will face the New Jersey Generals subsequent week after which once more every week later within the opening spherical of the USFL playoffs in Canton.
Highlights: Stars maintain off Maulers
Matt Colburn II was electrical within the run recreation because the Philadelphia Stars picked up a 17-16 victory over the Pittsburgh Maulers in Week 9.
“We had been very lucky on that one,” Stars head coach Bart Andrus mentioned of his workforce’s shut win. “That’s what you name, in my terminology, a clunker.”
The Maulers dropped to 1-7.
“We got here up brief,” Maulers head coach Kirby Wilson mentioned. “We wanted yet another play, and we simply didn’t get it. That’s the sport of soccer. However I’m happy with the boys, the combat they confirmed from begin to end.”
With Pittsburgh main and controlling the sport a lot of the method, Philadelphia security Ahmad Dixon made the game-changing play for the Stars. On first-and-10 from Philadelphia’s 35-yard line, Dixon got here unlock the center on a security blitz, blowing up the handoff between quarterback Vad Lee and Madre London within the backfield.
Defensive lineman Freedom Akinmoladun recovered the fumble. On the subsequent play, working again Matthew Colburn II scooted 51 yards for the rating, giving Philadelphia a 17-16 lead with 4:45 left.
Colburn totaled 97 speeding yards on 12 carries.
“It’s actually simply everyone understanding their project, between the offensive line and the receivers,” Colburn mentioned of his play. “Going above and past and blocking downfield. The chemistry has elevated the final couple weeks, and you’ll actually see it on the sector.”
Stars’ protection forces 4 turnovers vs. Maulers
The Philadelphia Stars defeated the Pittsburgh Maulers 17-16 because the protection pressured 4 turnovers.
The Stars performed powerful defensively, forcing 4 turnovers and scoring 10 factors off these miscues. Philadelphia leads the USFL with 85 factors off turnovers this season.
Philadelphia beginning quarterback Case Cookus took some massive hits within the first half. He completed 5-of-13 for 62 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception. The Maulers sacked Cookus twice.
Cookus gave technique to backup KJ Costello within the second half, who additionally was below siege by Pittsburgh’s protection. The Stanford product completed 4-of-10 for 69 yards.
“As a quarterback, you must knock that rust off, in order that was our intention getting into,” Andrus mentioned when requested about enjoying Costello. “We will’t predict the long run, however in some unspecified time in the future, we might have him on the sector once more.”
With nothing to lose, the Maulers opened up the playbook. Pittsburgh executed a pretend punt at midfield within the second quarter, with punter Max Duffy rolling out and discovering Hunter Thedford for a 19-yard play to maintain the chains shifting.
On the identical drive, the Maulers lined up for a 31-yard subject objective. Nevertheless, the holder Duffy flipped the ball over his head to the kicker Ahmed, who threw a wobbler to linebacker Malcolm Howard ultimately zone for a 14-yard rating. The play gave Pittsburgh a 10-3 lead.
Ahmed additionally stripped a 59-yard subject objective.
Philadelphia cornerback Channing Stribling corralled his league-leading seventh interception within the first half.
Isiah Hennie loses tooth on massive hit
Maulers receiver Isiah Hennie took an enormous hit on the finish of a 10-yard reception by Philadelphia defensive again Cody Brown that had him spitting out a unfastened tooth on the sideline.
“I misplaced one, however it’s only a knowledge tooth, although,” Hennie advised his teammate on the sideline.
Hennie remained within the recreation however will want a dentist to repair the lacking tooth. He completed with two receptions for 11 yards.
“He made an important play alongside the sideline to arrange the landing and preserve the drive going,” Wilson mentioned. “So hats off to him. I’m sorry concerning the misplaced tooth. However pound for pound, he is perhaps one of many hardest members of this soccer workforce. And as a late addition, I couldn’t ask for a greater man. I’m actually happy with him”
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, masking the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Observe him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.
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USFL – Stars vs. Maulers – 6/12/2022
