The USFL’s first game had just about everything, including a game-winning touchdown in the last minute. The score, provided by Stallions quarterback J’Mar Smith, gave the Birmingham Stallions a 28-24 win over the New Jersey Generals.
The two teams combined for 24 points in the fourth quarter, with Smith’s score coming on a 2-yard touchdown run with 29 seconds remaining. Smith’s scoring game just after the Generals took a lead by 1:54 on Nick Rose’s 47-yard field goal. Smith then led the Stallions on a game-winning 59-yard drive while recording the first win of the 2022 USFL season. The Generals lost despite rushing for a staggering 222 yards, including 98 yards and a score from quarterback De’Andre Johnson.
Saturday’s game started with a bang when Generals quarterback Luis Perez knocked out Randy Satterfield for a 48-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage. The drive ended with Satterfield catching a 3-yard touchdown despite suffering a nasty lick from a Stallion defender.
The Stallions responded with a big play of their own, a 35-yard touchdown pass from Alex McGough to Osirus Mitchell less than four minutes into the game. New Jersey regained the lead by taking advantage of safety Shalom Luani’s interception early in the second quarter. Faced with a third-and-7 from the Stallions 13, Perez rolled to the right before hitting Braedon Bowman in the end zone for the go-ahead score.
Led by Johnson and running back Trey Williams, the Generals put together a 12-play drive to start the second half, which ended with Rose – who hit a 47-yard field goal attempt in the last game of the first half missed – a 22-yard field goal attempt missed. The Stallions responded with a nine-play 80-yard drive that was cut short by CJ Marable’s 3-yard touchdown run. Back-to-back completions from J’Mar Smith to Mitchell for a total of 44 yards determined the score.
Both teams scored touchdowns to start the fourth quarter. Johnson put the Generals ahead on a 10-yard run, only for the Stallions to react less than four minutes later when Smith found Cary Angeline at the tight end for a 28-yard score. Rose then gave the Generals a 24-21 lead before Smith executed a game-winning two-minute drill.
We’ll have a full breakdown of what transpired tonight shortly. In the meantime, check out our live blog below for in-game highlights and analysis.