Birmingham Stallions win inaugural USFL championship in Canton
Jul. 4—Backup Alex McGough threw an 8-yard TD pass to Victor Bolden Jr. with 3 minutes, 9 seconds remaining, and linebacker Scooby Wright had a pick-six on the next play from scrimmage as the Birmingham Stallions rallied for a 33-30 victory over the Philadelphia Stars on July 3 in the inaugural USFL championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
Bolden Jr. had six catches for 64 yards and the go-ahead touchdown — totals which earned him game MVP honors.
SCOOBY WITH THE INTERCEPTION OMGGGGG @TwoStarScoob
: FOX pic.twitter.com/hUUPf0AkSN
— Birmingham Stallions (@USFLStallions) July 4, 2022
The Stallions (11-1) and Stars (8-5) gave the large crowd in Canton quite a show with a back-and-forth contest.
.@vicbolden delivers!
He hauls in Alex McGough's pass and Birmingham retakes the lead.
(via @USFLStallions — : @FOXSports)pic.twitter.com/MyO02ogtxu
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 4, 2022
Philly appeared in position for an upset victory behind the passing of Case Cookus, who threw two second-half touchdowns for a 23-20 lead in the fourth quarter. Cookus was 17 of 29 for 222 yards and three TD passes but left the game with 8 minutes to play with a lower leg injury.
This sideline angle of the @USFLStars go-ahead TD is a work of art pic.twitter.com/IDabRpdxez
— USFL (@USFL) July 4, 2022
Birmingham's starter quarterback J'Mar Smith also left the game with an injury. He was 10 of 18 for 131 yards and a first-half TD. McGough relieved Smith and went 7 of 10 passing for 77 yards and the go-ahead score.
The Stars trailed, 20-9, at halftime as Stallions running back Bo Scarborough of Alabama had a big first half with more than 100 yards and a touchdown on a 36-yard run. He finished with 13 carries for 135 yards.
Stars backup QB KJ Costello threw a TD pass with 1:44 remaining in the game to pull his team with three at 33-30. He had one last chance in the final seconds to drive his team in position to tie the game with a field goal but threw an interception with 16 seconds on the clock.
Birmingham outgained Philly in total yards, 381-340.
