Stallions ride to USFL title behind Alex McGough, Victor Bolden Jr.

By Eric D. Williams
FOX Sports Writer

Birmingham Stallions coach Skip Holtz needed to convey a USFL championship again dwelling to the followers within the Magic City. 

Well, Holtz bought his want.

As they’ve performed all season, the Stallions earned a comeback victory in Sunday night time’s title recreation, 33-30 over the Philadelphia Stars at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Seven of Birmingham’s 9 victories within the common season have been comeback wins. 

Birmingham Stallions win USFL championship

Led by J’Mar Smith, backup quarterback Alex McGough and recreation MVP Victor Bolden Jr., the Stallions held off the Stars for the USFL title.

With Birmingham beginning quarterback J’Mar Smith leaving the sport with a little bit greater than two minutes left within the third quarter due to a leg cramp, backup Alex McGough led the Stallions on the game-deciding drive. 

However, McGough first had to overcome throwing the primary interception of the sport, a cross that was bobbled by CJ Marable earlier than it ended up within the arms of Stars linebacker Jordan Moore. Following the turnover, McGough returned to the sideline for an animated back-and-forth with Holtz. 

“Things bought a little bit dicey,” McGough mentioned afterward. “He simply form of introduced me over, took me by means of the play and what he was pondering. I used to be telling him what I used to be pondering. And then he simply mentioned we’re going to win this recreation. And that form of put it into perspective of, ‘Hey, next play.’”

Holtz mentioned he advised his quarterback to concentrate on the current and never fear about what had occurred up to now.

“I advised him to simply relax and play throughout the system, and also you’re going to be nice,” Holtz mentioned. “And that’s what he did.”

Alex McGough talks Stallions’ victory

Alex McGough stops by to speak about main the game-winning drive for Birmingham.

With his crew trailing by three factors, McGough led the Stallions on a 64-yard scoring drive, capped by an 8-yard landing to Victor Bolden Jr. on a back-shoulder fade for a 26-23 lead the Stallions would by no means relinquish.

Bolden completed with six receptions for 64 yards. He additionally had a 43-yard kick return, incomes MVP honors for the sport. 

“This might be the largest award that I’ve gotten, and it means the world to me,” Bolden mentioned.

The Stars double-covered Bolden a lot of the recreation, permitting fellow receiver Marlon Williams to even have an enormous recreation, ending with seven catches for 105 yards and a rating. 

McGough, who was the opening day starter for the Stallions, completed 7-for-10 for 77 yards, with a landing cross and an interception. Smith accomplished 10 of 18 passes for 131 yards, a landing and no interceptions. 

Case Cookus throws an acrobatic TD

Case Cookus continues to be electrical as his TD toss to Jordan Suell brings Philadelphia nearer within the USFL Championship.

Case Cookus performed properly for the Stars, finishing 17 of 29 passes for 222 yards and three scores. However, he suffered a damaged fibula halfway by means of the fourth quarter, giving means to backup Okay.J. Costello. 

Costello promptly threw an interception that Philadelphia linebacker Scooby Wright took again 46 yards for a rating, giving Birmingham a 10-point lead. 

On the following drive, Costello discovered Chris Rowland for a 12-yard landing, reducing Birmingham’s lead again to three factors. However, Birmingham security Christian McFarland sealed the sport with an interception with 16 seconds left.

Receiver Jordan Suell led Philadelphia with 5 catches for 66 yards and two scores. 

Birmingham’s Bo Scarbrough rolls

Alabama product Bo Scarbrough introduced the ache early for the Stallions.

Bo Scarbrough scores the sport’s first TD

Bo Scarbrough’s 36-yard speeding TD gave Birmingham the early lead.

Scarbrough completed with 135 yards on 13 carries, together with an extended, 69-yard run that arrange a Brandon Aubrey 28-yard discipline purpose, giving Birmingham a 20-9 benefit at halftime. 

The midseason addition of Scarbrough solidified Birmingham’s working recreation, serving to the Stallions management the clock and lean on their protection to shut out video games. 

“Bo brings a heavy presence,” Holtz mentioned. “And this was the kind of recreation, with safeties coming downhill and the way in which they have been attempting to take away Victor excessive, they usually began to try to take away Marlon. And that left an enormous gap in the midst of the sector. All he had to do is make one man miss, and there was inexperienced grass in entrance of him. And Bo did that tonight.” 

Dexter Williams efficient as late add at RB

With prime working again Matt Colburn II not obtainable for the sport due to damage, late addition Dexter Williams performed huge offensively for Philadelphia.

Birmingham’s celebration

The Birmingham Stallions raise the trophy after successful the inaugural USFL title.

The Notre Dame product simply joined the crew this week however picked up the offense shortly and accounted for a team-high 102 scrimmage yards in a loss.

“I assumed he performed very well for not having a lot time to be taught the offense,” Stars coach Bart Andrus mentioned “We had to discover stuff that he may be taught shortly, however he performed properly. I might have preferred to have seen him for a number of extra weeks.” 

Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, masking 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.