Stallions Beat Generals in First USFL Game in Thrilling Fashion

Read Time:3 Minute, 1 Second

The first inaugural game of the USFL was a thriller. The New Jersey Generals played the Birmingham Stallions at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. You could see some new techniques the league is trying to implement from the rules to the overall production of the game itself. Usage of a drone camera and even helmet cameras to name a few. Following kickoffs and some in-game plays up-close was something unique and different compared to the NFL. The number of players being mic’d up has increased as well to 16 per team.

The Generals were set to receive the opening kickoff as they started the first drive of the game. Quarterback Luis Perez, from Texas A&M-Commerce, led the offense. The former Division-II national champion had been on a couple of NFL rosters with little to no playing time. Most of his play came in alternative leagues such as the AAF and XFL before the COVID-19 pandemic. On the first play of the game, Perez threw a bomb to Randy Satterfield, a receiver out of Lyon College (AR). Right away it showed fans the excitement that the league had anticipated. Just a handful of plays later after converting a 4th and 1, Perez connected with Satterfield in the endzone, scoring the league’s first touchdown of the new season.

The Stallions had an answer for it through a scoring drive of their own. Quarterback Alex McGough from FIU was primarily a practice squad player with multiple NFL teams before playing in the USFL. He was drafted in the seventh round by Seattle during the 2018 NFL Draft before his release from the team.

After a solid return by Victor Bolden to the 45-yard line, McGough followed up the next play with a 7-yard run of his own. A personal foul penalty on the Generals would turn his run into a 15-yard gain. On the very next play, McGough throws a touchdown pass to Osirus Mitchell out of Mississippi State.

So on back-to-back drives we got two touchdowns, deep touchdown passes in an offensive-dominated world.

McGough wasn’t perfect though. He threw an interception to safety Shalom Luani drafted in 2017 by the Raiders in the seventh round. He is another player with the NFL on practice squads for various teams. He led the Generals defense in tackles with eight solo tackles, two passes defended, and a tackle for loss.

Perez turned the turnover into points for the Generals as he finished the drive with a touchdown pass to Braedon Bowman out of South Alabama. Bowman signed with the Jaguars in 2016 and played for a few teams’ practice squads in the coming years. He also played for the Birmingham Iron in the AAF before they ceased operations in 2019.

Fast forward to the end of the third quarter where the Stallions CJ Marable scored the next touchdown tying the game 14-14.

The game started to pick back up with both teams having back-to-back touchdown drives. It tied the game once again at 21-21. The Generals’ next drive ended in a field goal by Nick Rose making the score 24-21. Rose signed with the Falcons in 2016 before bouncing around to various NFL teams.

The game-winning touchdown came from quarterback J’Mar Smith out of Louisiana Tech. Smith signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Patriots in 2020 but was later waived around training camp. The quarterback scrambled for a 2-yard run, taking the lead late. The Stallions won the game 28-24 over the Generals.