The USFL got off to a see-saw start, with the league's host team, the Birmingham Stallions, escaping their first game with a 28-24 victory over the New Jersey Generals on Saturday night.After explosive starts by both sides that featured opening-drive touchdowns, the offenses were stymied until late in the second half.Neither side scored more than seven consecutive points throughout the game as they struggled to establish and maintain momentum on offense. They both reinvented themselves at halftime, however, as weather became a factor.BENDER: The Stallions came out of
Buffalo Bills Accessories the halftime locker room without quarterback Alex McGough, who suffered an injury in the first half. J'Mar Smith came in and, despite some early jitters, finished 11 of 21 pa sing for 156 yards and produced a pair of touchdowns (one rushing, one pa sing). The rushing touchdown gave Birmingham the lead with 23 seconds left.New Jersey quarterback De'Andre Smith got most of the reps in the second half after a good start by Luis Perez. Johnson headed a running game that dominated for much of the second half, but the offense came up just short. The Generals will now look to reload and figure out their dual-QB system.The Sporting News provided live updates of the Generals and Stallions opening the new USFL's first season.Generals vs. Stallions scoreQ1Q2Q3Q4FGenerals7701024Stallions7071428Generals vs. Stallions live updates, highlights from USFL opener(All times Eastern)FINAL: Stallions 28, Generals 2410:49 p.m.: A last play for New Jersey fails, and the Stallions escape with a 28-24 win in the first game of the USFL season. Great job by J'Mar Smith filling in at quarterback and leading Birmingham to a hometown victory.10:45 p.m.: J'Mar Smith takes the lead back for the Stallions, punching in a touchdown with 23 seconds left! Terrific play from Smith who continues to impre s, and the extra point makes
Tyler Matakevich Jersey it 28-24 Stallions.THE STALLIONS RESPOND AND TAKE THE LEAD LATE! : , & USFL (@USFL) 10:43 p.m.: Victor Bolden makes a great block on the outside to spring C.J. Marble for a first down. With 33 seconds left it's 1st and Goal with the Stallions down three.10:39 p.m.: J'Mar Smith is putting together another nice drive for Birmingham, making plays with his legs and his arms. He has the Stallions on the Generals' side of the field with 53 seconds left.10:35 p.m.: An interesting choice by New Jersey to attempt a field goal on 4th and 2. After Nick Rose hooked his first two field goals, he sneaks a 47-yard attempt through the left upright. Great kick to make it 24-21 Generals with 1:49 left.10:32 p.m.: We head into the two minute warning still tied, as New Jersey tries to keep its drive alive on third-and-long. This is the first time in a while the Generals have found themselves behind the sticks, so we'll see what play call they come out with.10:29 p.m.: De'Andre Johnson has looked more and more comfortable making plays with his legs as this game has worn on. Back-to-back first downs on the ground have the generals back in busine s in a 21-21 game.10:24 p.m.: Cary Angeline scores for the Stallions on a dot from J'Mar Smith. Great job by Birmingham to answer and draw even with 5:51 left.THAT'S SIX : , & Birmingham Stallions (@USFLStallions) 10:22 p.m.: Nice job by the Stallions going up-tempo behind J'Mar Smith to convert on a third-and-2. They're cooking with gas as they continue to try to get the ball to their top players, and they're looking to tie the game up as we close in on six minutes remaining.10:15 p.m.: De'Andre Johnson scores on a sweep to the outside for the Generals, putting them back up 21-14 after the extra point. Really well-executed drive, particularly from Johnson in the running game.10:13 p.m.: The Generals are in first and goal now, as Darius Victor continues to have a nice drive. The Generals' RPO behind De'Andre Johnson is effective in the red zone.10:08 p.
Buffalo Bills Golf Sporting Goods m.: On 4th and 4, the Generals run a sweep play to the outside for Trey Williams for a first down. On-field mics pick up a Stallion player telling the officials to "call holding one time."10:06 p.m.: Darius Victor rips off a big run for the Generals early in the fourth quarter, putting New Jersey back in scoring position.9:56 p.m.: J'Mar Smith puts together a nice drive for Birmingham that ends in their first points since the opening po se sion. C.J. Marable punches it in for the Stallions, and they tie the game up 14-14 with the extra point.TOUCHDOWN punched it in : , & Birmingham Stallions (@USFLStallions) 9:52 p.m.: Terrific play from J'Mar Smith under pre sure as he makes a free blitzer mi s and finds Victor Bolden on the outside. Birmingham is looking to get back into this game once again and capitalize on the mi sed field goal.9:47 p.m.: The Generals run a delay for De'Andre Smith coming out of the timeout, and he's stacked up just inside the 10. The Generals mi s the field goal to keep it 14-7, coming away from a 12-play drive with nothing.9:44 p.m.: On third-and-goal, the Generals have to burn their second timeout of the drive as the crowd noise gets to them. Coming out of the, they'll be looking to cap the drive off with a
Gabriel Davis Jersey touchdown.9:39 p.m.: The Generals are slowing things down, running quick-hitting plays with both Luis Perez and De'Andre Smith. This drive has been their most methodical so far, and they're on the Stallions' side of the field.9:35 p.m.: A... choice by the Generals coming out of halftime, as Luis Perez forces a pa s into double coverage that gets broken up. The inclement weather is still a factor, but that's a bad pa s in perfect conditions.9:31 p.m.: J'Mar Smith has his third-down pa s tipped at the line on third-and-8, resulting in another fourth down. The ball goes through the end zone, and the Generals will try to start the second half stronger.9:28 p.m.: Coming out of the half, Birmingham will be without Alex McGough. That means J'Mar Smith will take over at quarterback for the Stallions, as they get the ball out of the half.HALFTIME: Generals 14, Stallions 79:15 p.m.: New Jersey mi ses a field goal heading into the half, taking us to the locker room with the Generals up 14-7. It was an explosive start to the game, but the weather picking up and defenses settling in appeared to slow both offenses down.9:12 p.m.: Great play by New Jersey as the clock
Frank Reich Jersey begins to wind down in the half, as KaVontae Turpin shows off some incredible ha
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