Case Cookus’ valiant rally for Stars cut short by injury

By Eric D. Williams
FOX Sports Writer

An afterthought when the season began, Case Cookus emerged as one of many high gamers within the USFL.

And he seemed to be ready so as to add to that legacy in Sunday night time’s championship sport, serving to the Philadelphia Stars come from behind to take a 23-20 lead over the Birmingham Stallions halfway by the fourth quarter.

Case Cookus throws go-ahead TD in fourth quarter

The Philadelphia Stars took a 23-20 lead over the Birmingham Stallions behind a Case Cookus landing move to Devin Gray and a two-point conversion to Jordan Suell.

Unfortunately, his spectacular exhibiting was cut short when he suffered a damaged leg, stopping the Northern Arizona product from ending what he had began. 

Cookus suffered the injury whereas being sacked by defensive lineman Dondrea Tillman. His proper ankle bent awkwardly in the course of the play, and he needed to be carted off the sphere. He accomplished 17 of 29 passes for 222 yards and three scores. Cookus didn’t have any interceptions, however he was sacked 4 occasions. 

Stanford product Ok.J. Costello changed Cookus within the beginning lineup. He didn’t fare properly, ending 5 of 9 for 45 yards, with a landing move and two interceptions. As a end result, the Stallions held on for a 33-30 victory.

“He was actually upset,” Stars head coach Bart Andrus stated when requested about his dialog with Cookus after the sport. “He would have favored to have completed the sport. He’s a type of guys who it wasn’t about him; it’s about him having the ability to assist his workforce. That was the largest concern for him as a result of it held him again from having the ability to carry out for his workforce of their time of want. That was the largest factor on his thoughts.”

Cookus additionally had one other concern. He’s getting married on July 14.

“Once he realized the factor was broke, then it turned to, ‘Oh, I’m getting married in two weeks,” Andrus stated. “And I perceive that. He needs to be there for his fiancée.”

The Stars had been the highest-scoring workforce in the course of the common season, however the Stallions stored Philadelphia from creating explosive performs by bringing stress within the face of Cookus.

The Stars had 40, 20-plus yard performs in the course of the common season, however simply three in opposition to the Stars.

Case Cookus throws an acrobatic TD

Case Cookus continued to be electrical in opposition to the Stallions, connecting with Jordan Suell once more to assist the Stars shut the hole within the USFL championship. 

“Case is a good quarterback,” Birmingham head coach Skip Holtz stated “We tried to place some stress on him, however he’s acquired such nice toes that he acquired out of the pocket on the primary landing. If he begins operating round, he buys time and in case you play protection, it’s laborious to get to him with three or 4 (rushers).

“He can run round, and protection can solely maintain up for so lengthy. He can do it along with his toes. He can do it along with his arm, and he does it along with his thoughts. I believe he’s an ideal quarterback.”

Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, overlaying the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.