Birmingham Wins Inaugural USFL Title with 33-30 Win Over Philadelphia

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The inaugural USFL championship game was a high-scoring thriller. It was everything you want in professional sports from the great weather to one of the largest crowds this season. Two teams, one favorite that was undefeated for nine games and the underdog that has had multiple starting quarterbacks. The night ended with the Birmingham Stallions, the league’s best team all season, being crowned the champion with a 33-30 win over the Philadelphia Stars.

The Birmingham Stallions were considered the best team in the USFL for most of the league’s inaugural season. They will have a chance to prove that once and for all on Sunday. This final game is a rematch of the Week 5 meeting the Stallions won against the Stars 30-17. Unfortunately, they are going to play a Philadelphia team that has found its in the last couple of games.

The Stars have one of the USFL’s most explosive offenses led by quarterback Case Cookus. Philadelphia league-high 26.2 points per game during the regular season with Cookus throwing the second-most touchdown passes in the league with 12. Quite impressive despite having just seven starts under his belt.

The Stallions would still prevail in the end.

McGough finished the game 7-for-10 with 77 passing yards, one touchdown pass, and one interception. Smith was 10-for-18 with 131 passing yards and a touchdown.

Bo Scarborough rushed for an impressive 135 yards on 13 carries, a touchdown, and a 70-yard run during the game. Wide Receiver Marlon Williams would lead Birmingham with seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown himself while Championship Game MVP Victor Bolden had six catches for 64 yards and a score.

Quarterback Alex McGough would replace J’Mar Smith after he was dealing with cramps. He would later throw an interception in the fourth quarter and was clearly frustrated on the sidelines but this luckily didn’t cost the team the game. Birmingham head coach Skip Holtz assured McGough that they were going to win the game. McGough threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Victor Bolden Jr. in the same quarter giving the Stallions a 26-23 lead. Adding insult to injury linebacker Scooby Wright III had a pick-six the very next drive to seal the game for them.

Philadelphia, which also finished the game with a backup quarterback after Case Cookus injured his knee, clawed back with a late touchdown. But a missed conversion attempt after the score and a late-minute interception sealed the Stars’ fate.