The USFL drew the Birmingham Stallions for the league playoffs, but that didn’t stop the league’s permanent local team from reaching the opening game of the championship.
After recording a 9-1 record to win the Southern Division in 10 regular-season games in Birmingham, the Stallions defeated Southern runner-up New Orleans Breakers 31-17 Saturday night at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Canton Stadium, Ohio. in a USFL semifinal match.
The Stallions beat the Breakers even though Auburn’s former tight end, Sal Cannella, took 12 passes for 154 yards for New Orleans.
Birmingham will play against the Philadelphia Stars, not against the regular season champion of the Northern Division, the New Jersey Generals, in the USFL title game on July 3rd.
The Generals had a 9-1 record in the regular season and entered the postseason with a streak of nine straight wins that included two wins over the Stars: 24-16 on May 1 and 26-23 a week ago.
But Philadelphia turned New Jersey upside down 19-14 Saturday in Canton in the opening semifinal match.
The match between the top two finishers in the Northern Division turned into two point returns in the fourth quarter.
League MVP KaVontae Turpin returned a 78-yard clearance for a touchdown while the Generals took a 14-10 lead with 10:30 to play.
The Stars got a point with a field goal with 5:55 for the end, then got an 88-yard return for a touchdown from Maurice Alexander to advance 19-14 with 1:41 for the end.
Corner Amani Dennis sealed Philadelphia’s place in the championship game with an interception on the Stars ’17-yard line 30 seconds from the end.
After the Breakers tied the score at 14-14 with 1:06 for the end of the first half in the second semifinal, Victor Bolden Jr. turned around the first touchdown start round in USFL history with 90 yards as the Stallions recovered a 21-14. leads with 53 seconds left in the first half.
New Orleans took three points off the scoreboard with a field goal to end a 17-play series that consumed the first 10:25 of the second half.
Birmingham regained those points with a 14-play series, then finished their third win over the Breakers this year with a 15-play, 88-yard touchdown run that reached the end zone with just 39 seconds to play.
Performances by former Alabama high school and college players in the USFL semifinals included:
New Jersey Generals wide receiver Randy Satterfield runs after a reception during a USFL playoff game against the Philadelphia Stars on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn / USFL / Getty). Images)
Philadelphia Stars 19, New Jersey Generals 14
· Offensive attack by Generals Calvin Ashley (Auburn) played but did not record any statistics.
· General Braedon Bowman’s tight end (South Alabama) caught a 10-yard pass.
· Jalen Choice (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Jacksonville State) played but did not record any statistics.
· Runner-up Kingston Davis (Prattville, UAB / Miles) was on the inactive list and could not play.
· Generals Corner Trae Elston (Oxford) made two tackles.
· Star defensive tackle Tony Fair (UAB / Auburn) was on the inactive list and could not play.
· The offensive attack of the stars Colby Ragland (UAB) was in the inactive list and could not play.
· General receiver Randy Satterfield (Jemison, West Alabama) had three receptions for 30 yards and made an entry.
· The tight end of Generals Wes Saxton (Hueytown, South Alabama) played but did not record any statistics.
· Stars corner Bradley Sylve (Alabama) was left inactive and could not play.
· Generals corner Christian Tutt (Auburn) was on the idle list and could not play.
New Jersey Generals tight end Braedon Bowman clings to football for a reception during a USFL playoff game against the Philadelphia Stars on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn / USFL / Getty Images)
The tight end of the New Orleans Breakers, Sal Cannella, runs after a reception during a USFL game against the Birmingham Stallions on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Birmingham Stallions 31, New Orleans Breakers 17
· The tight end of Breakers Sal Cannella (Auburn) has taken 12 passes for 154 yards.
· Breakers defensive tackle Connor Christian (Jacksonville State) recorded a loss entry.
· Breakers runner Ezra Gray (Alabama) returned six initial throws for 109 yards, including a 33-yard one.
· Stallions corner Tae Hayes (Decatur) made five passes, intercepted one pass, broke three passes and forced a balance. Hayes ’interception hit Birmingham’s 33-yard line with 22 seconds left in the first half.
· Breakers tight end Justin Johnson (Hoover) played but did not record any statistics.
· Breakers receiver Marquis McClain (Auburn) was on the sidelines and could not play.
· Stallion receiver Peyton Ramzy (Bessemer Academy, Tuskegee) was on the inactive list and could not play.
· Breakers defender Steven Rowzee (Troy) played but did not record any statistics.
· Stallion runner Bo Scarbrough (Northridge, Alabama) ran 39 yards on 11 carries and grabbed three passes from 26 yards.
· Breakers corner Keith Washington II (Prattville) was on the ineligible roster and could not play.
· Stallion receiver Marlon Williams (McGill-Toolen) caught four passes for 24 yards.
Birmingham Stallions cornerback Tae Hayes is running after an interception pass during a USFL playoff game against the New Orleans Breakers on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn / USFL / Getty Images)
The Stars and Stallions will face the USFL Championship at 6:30 p.m. CDT on Sunday, July 3 in Canton. FOX will televise the games.
Mark Inabinett is a sports journalist for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.