The Birmingham Stallions defeated the New Jersey Generals, 28-24, in the inaugural game of the USFL season at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday night.
The matchup came down to the final minutes as both teams traded scores back-and-forth throughout. But QB JâMar Smith, who entered the game in the second half to replace the injured Alex McGough, rushed for a game-winning two-yard touchdown with 29 seconds left to secure the victory for the hometown Stallions.
The Generals dominated the first half of the game as QB Luis Perez threw two touchdown passes, including one to standout WR Randy Satterfield, to give New Jersey a seven-point lead heading into the locker room.
After relying predominantly on their passing game in the first half, both teams found the ground game in the second. Fellow Generals QB DeâAndre Johnson helped set up a 47-yard field goal with two minutes left in the game to give New Jersey a three-point lead. But there was too much time left on the clock and the Stallions took advantage, driving 10 plays all the way down the field for the game-winning touchdown score.
The Generals were led by head coach Mike Riley, who was a former defensive back for the University of Alabama from 1971-74 and has over 40 seasons of head coaching experience at the pro and collegiate levels. Skip Holtz led the opposite sideline for the Stallions. Holtz is the son of former head coach Lou Holtz, who spent 11 seasons at the helm at Notre Dame and won a national championship in 1988. Skip most recently spent the last nine seasons at Louisiana Tech where he finished with an overall record of 64-50. He made his coaching debut at the professional level against the Generals and is now 1-0 as a pro football coach.
Generals vs. Stallions score, results, highlights
Final score: New Jersey Generals 24, Birmingham Stallions 28
1st quarter, 11:51 (Generals): L.Perez pass short middle complete to BHAM 3. Catch made by R.Satterfield at BHAM 3. Gain of 3 yards. R.Satterfield for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN
1st quarter, 11:18 (Stallions): A.McGough pass complete to NJ 35. Catch made by O.Mitchell at NJ 35. Gain of 35 yards. O.Mitchell for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2nd quarter, 9:16 (Generals): L.Perez pass complete to BHAM 13. Catch made by B.Bowman at BHAM 13. Gain of 13 yards. B.Bowman for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3rd quarter, 0:42 (Stallions): C.Marable rushed to NJ End Zone for 3 yards. C.Marable for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4th quarter, 9:21 (Generals): D.Johnson rushed right end to BHAM End Zone for 4 yards. D.Johnson for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4th quarter, 6:00 (Stallions): J.Smith pass complete to NJ 28. Catch made by C.Angeline at NJ 28. Gain of 28 yards. C.Angeline for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4th quarter, 1:54 (Generals): N.Rose 47 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-S.Flanick, Holder-B.Miller.
4th quarter, 0:29 (Stallions): J.Smith scrambles right end to NJ End Zone for 2 yards. J.Smith for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Generals vs. Stallions reaction and coverage
10:50 p.m. ET: It comes down to the final play of the game but the hometown Stallions hold on for the win!
10:45 p.m. ET: On the 10th play of the drive, Smith takes it for himself and scrambles two yards into the end zone. The Stallions take a 28-24 lead with 29 seconds left to play in Birmingham!
TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!!! đ€ @jMar_Smith on the keeper!!!!!!
đș: @FOXSports, @NBCSports & @PeacockTV pic.twitter.com/D5YfmxpEzZ
â Birmingham Stallions (@USFLStallions) April 17, 2022
10:34 p.m. ET: The Generals have rushed the ball 24 straight times!
Rose gets his third shot of the night to try to convert a field goals for the Generals. This time, he converts the 47-yard field goal to give New Jersey a 24-21 lead with less than two minutes left to play.
Can Smith pull off a successful two-minute drive for the Stallions?
10:23 p.m. ET: The Stallions respond on their following drive as Smith completes a 28-yard touchdown pass over the middle of the field to Cary Angeline.
TIE GAME IN BIRMINGHAM!
Cary Angeline leaps across the goal line and we are knotted at 21.
đș: @nbc, @peacockTV, @FOXSports pic.twitter.com/cNAE7iTHqC
â NBC Sports (@NBCSports) April 17, 2022
Angeline has spent time with the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles.
Weâre knotted at 21-21 with less than six minutes left to play.
10:10 p.m. ET: After recording less than 50 rushing yards in the entire first half, the Generals embraced their run game in the fourth quarter.
To cap off an 11-play, 65-yard drive, Johnson rushes for a four-yard touchdown down the sideline and just makes it inside the pylon to give the Generals a 21-14 lead.
.@DredaDon14 FOR SIXâïž
đș: @FOXSports, @NBCSports & @PeacockTV pic.twitter.com/9ykIwS5yXq
â New Jersey Generals (@USFLGenerals) April 17, 2022
The Generals tallied more rushing yards on this scoring drive than they did in the entire first half.
9:56 p.m. ET: The Stallions put together their strongest drive since their opening offensive drive of the game as Smith leads Birmingham all the way down the field to the New Jersey 3-yard line.
Running back CJ Marable rushes for a 3-yard touchdown run â the first rushing TD in the game â and the Stallions tie the score at 14.
9:50 p.m. ET: Behind the scenes!
Look who got an inside-the-trucks look at @FOXSports @NBCSports operation for @USFL debut. 56 cameras. All coaches miked. 16 players miked. All-tech 1st-down measures. pic.twitter.com/7jq3DbAgGG
â Roy S. Johnson (@roysj) April 17, 2022
9:40 p.m. ET: With QB DeâAndre Johnson under center, the Generals drive down the field. Johnson leads New Jersey on a 12-play, 75-yard drive to set Rose up for a 23-yard field goal. But the kick veers left and the score stays at 14-7.
Can the Stallions take advantage of another missed Generals FG?
9:30 p.m. ET: We are underway in the second half!
McGough is out with an injury and QB JâMar Smith is leading the Stallions under center.
9:20 p.m. ET:
Some big catches in the first half of the @USFL season opener!@USFLGenerals lead the @USFLStallions 14-7. pic.twitter.com/WrXcl6TNRd
â NBC Sports (@NBCSports) April 17, 2022
Halftime stats:
The Generals ran eight drives in the first half, while the Stallions ran seven.
New Jersey tallied 224 total yards and Birmingham recorded 82. NJ dominated the passing game in the half with 175 yards in the air versus 49 passing yards for Birmingham.
Each team recorded one turnover.
The Generals won the time of possession battle at 19:41, while the Stallions held the ball for 10:19.
9:15 p.m. ET: Generals kicker Nick Rose attempts a 47-yard field goal to close out the half, but his kick veers wide left.
New Jersey takes a 14-7 lead into the locker room.
9:08 p.m. ET: Some game clock differences to note as the first half winds down:
The play clock is 35 seconds in the USFL instead of 40.
The clock automatically stops on first downs inside the 2-minute warning.
8:58 p.m. ET: Satterfield continues to dominate in 1-on-1 matchups with one 15-yard pass followed by another 31-yard catch down the sideline to set the Generals up on the Birmingham 27-yard line.
World, meet Randy Satterfield. đ±
đș: @FOXSports, @NBCSports & @PeacockTV pic.twitter.com/kqptrfHj3s
â New Jersey Generals (@USFLGenerals) April 17, 2022
But Stallions LB Scooby Wright sacks Perez and forces a fumble to give the ball back to Birmingham and halt the Generalsâ momentum.
8:50 p.m. ET: The Generals have been playing with multiple quarterbacks all night. Perez started the game but QB DeâAndre Johnson is also getting snaps under center.
Perez escapes a couple of grabs by the Stallions defense and connects with Braedon Bowman for a 13-yard touchdown pass. The Generals capitalize on the turnover and take a 14-7 lead.
8:35 p.m. ET: McGough is back on the field despite walking off gingerly at the end of the Stallionsâ last possession.
But his pass is intercepted by Generals safety Shalom Luani at the New Jersey 37-yard line â the first turnover of the game and in the history of the league.
THE FIRST TURNOVER in @USFL history!
The @USFLGenerals pick up the INT.
đș: @nbc, @peacockTV and @FOXSports pic.twitter.com/iLODxfqjXG
â NBC Sports (@NBCSports) April 17, 2022
8:25 p.m. ET: Defensive pass interference called on the Stallions down the sideline.
Unlike in the NFL, this results in only a 15-yard penalty, and is not a spot foul.
For further explanation on the difference in rules in the USFL, click here.
That brings us to the end of the first quarter as the Generals continue to drive down the field.
8:20 p.m. ET: New perspective!
First look at the "Helmet Cam" this season! đ#USFLOpeningWeekend đș: @FOXSports, @NBCSports & @PeacockTV pic.twitter.com/rjaG5MoQ17
â USFL (@USFL) April 17, 2022
8:16 p.m. ET: DeMarquis Gates of the Stallions records the first sack of the game as he picks up a huge loss of seven with his tackle of Perez.
Fun fact about another part of the Stallions defense: their secondary has played in a combined 83 NFL games.
8:08 p.m. ET: Birmingham, the host city for the USFL this season, has a long history of professional football that dates back to the 1970s.
Players on both sidelines have ties to the area.
Generals QB JâMar Smithâs father, Kenny Smith, played DL at Alabama (and went on to play in the NFL).
Stallions WR Peyton Ramzy grew up in McCalla, Alabama, which is roughly 25 minutes Southwest of Protective Stadium in Birmingham.
7:57 p.m. ET: The Stallions respond right away as QB Alex McGough connects with WR Osirus Mitchell on a 35-yard touchdown pass. Mitchell makes a one-handed grab in the back of the end zone to tie the score at seven apiece.
The scoring drive takes just two plays and 36 seconds.
Dear entire @USFL,
Weâd like to introduce you to @OMitchellV.
Good luck. pic.twitter.com/rxMDio5t5B
â Birmingham Stallions (@USFLStallions) April 17, 2022
7:50 p.m. ET: Luis Perez is under center for the Generals in their opening possession. He gets the game off to a hot start with a 49-yard pass down the sideline to Randy Satterfield.
HOW ABOUT THAT FOR A FIRST PLAY.
Luis Perez hit Randy Satterfield for a 49-yard strike.
đș: @FOXSports, @NBCSports & @PeacockTV pic.twitter.com/QKJ0NxcsnR
â New Jersey Generals (@USFLGenerals) April 16, 2022
On fourth-and-1 inside the 10-yard line, the Generals make the first gutsy call of the game and opt to go for it. They successfully convert and its Perez to Satterfield again for the touchdown â the first in the history of the USFL!
Generals take an early 7-0 lead.
7:45 p.m. ET: Birmingham wins the toss and defers.
And we are officially playing football in the spring!
7:40 p.m. ET: Bigger than football.
.@USFLGenerals head coach Mike Riley talks about his wife, Dee, and the relationship they share and how football has helped them through difficult times. #UnitedByFootball | đș: @FOXSports pic.twitter.com/uzSB9Ty57g
â USFL (@USFL) April 16, 2022
7:30 p.m. ET: Itâs just about that time! Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett is in Birmingham helping to tell us what to expect.
7:10 p.m. ET: The hometown Stallions are fired up for the first kickoff of the season.
đŁ GIDDY UP pic.twitter.com/E8GbUOGRTP
â Birmingham Stallions (@USFLStallions) April 16, 2022
7:06 p.m. ET: Are you ready?
The first game of the USFLâs inaugural season is less than 30 minutes away from kickoff!
The stage is set!
Who ya got in the @USFL season opener?! đđđŻ pic.twitter.com/35t43ZHmEb
â NBC Sports (@NBCSports) April 16, 2022
Everything you need to know about the USFL:
- 2022 USFL TV Schedule: Dates and times for the 10-week inaugural football season
- Everything you need to know about the 2022 USFL Season: Teams, key dates, TV schedule, how to watch, and more
- 2022 USFL Rules: Overtime changes, 3-point conversions, forward passes and more
- Alex McGough leads Birmingham Stallions into the new USFL
- Jason Garrett, Cameron Jordan will be analysts for USFL on NBC
What time and channel is the Generals vs. Stallions on?
- When:Â Saturday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock, and FOX. FOX will produce tonightâs game coverage while NBC does pregame, halftime and postgame coverage.
- Where:Â Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama
- Live Stream: NBC and Peacock