USFL Week 1 Sky Highlights
Game of the Week Recap - Philadelphia Stars vs Memphis Showboats
The Philadelphia Stars and the Memphis Showboats kicked off the first game of the season in a high-energy matchup that had fans on the edge of their seats. The game, which aired on Fox and was hosted in Memphis, featured standout quarterbacks Case Cookus (Philadelphia) and Brady White (Memphis).
Despite White's previous success at the University of Memphis, his game got off to a rocky start when he was picked off early by last year's USFL interception leader, Channing Stribling.
The Stars quickly proved to be one of the most explosive teams in the league this year, with Cookus finding new addition Corey Coleman for a 35-yard leaping reception. Cookus then finished off a 71-yard drive by connecting with WR Chris Rowland from 6 yards out for the games 1st score.
However, the Showboats were quick to answer the challenge when White found Rashard Davis for a 43-yard touchdown that tied the game at 7.
The Stars pulled ahead even further in the second quarter, thanks to red zone touchdowns from Matt Colburn and Dexter Williams. Memphis blocked the extra point, but they also blocked a 50-yard field goal attempt that stopped the Stars from going up 23-10 before the half.
The Showboats struck first in the second half when White threw a touchdown pass to Ryan McDaniel to cap off an 81-yard drive, cutting the lead to 3. But the Stars responded with a 10-play, 65-yard drive that ended with an over-the-shoulder touchdown catch by Devin Gray from Cookus, extending their lead to 27-17 with 13 seconds left in the third.
Although the Showboats managed to score again with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Alex Collins, both defenses stepped up in the final stretch, and the game ended with a final score of 27-23.
Cookus had a stellar game, tossing three touchdowns for a total of 212 yards and a QBR of 124.5. He also added 31 yards on the ground and connected with eight different receivers on the day. Gray led the team with seven catches and 77 yards, while Coleman added 65 yards on four grabs. WR Chris Rowland had a dynamic performance with 152 all-purpose yards and a touchdown for the Stars.
Although the Showboats' defense put good pressure on Cookus throughout the game, tallying up five sacks, White's two touchdowns and Collins' 63 yards on the ground, 25 receiving, and a touchdown on 19 total touches were the highlights of the offense. Despite the loss, the Showboats showed promise for the rest of the season, while the Stars demonstrated why they will be a team to beat again this season.
USFL Week 1 - Standout Players
The USFL's opening weekend featured a number of standout players across all three phases of the game. Among them were two quarterbacks who put up impressive numbers:
Josh Love set a USFL record for highest completion percentage in a game, completing 90% of his passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Michigan Panthers to a 29-13 win over the Gamblers.Â
Cookus, meanwhile, completed 20 of 29 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Houston Gamblers to a hard-fought 27-23 victory over the Memphis Showboats.Â
Josh Love and Case Cookus will be ready to put on a show when they face off against each other this weekend in Canton.
On the defensive side of the ball, Breeland Speaks of the Michigan Panthers made a strong case for himself as one of the league's top pass rushers, registering three sacks and seven total tackles in the team's win over Memphis. Speaks was a constant presence in the backfield, disrupting the opposing offense and helping his team hold the Showboats to just 13 points.
Finally, special teams played a crucial role in several games during the opening weekend, with kicker Matt Coghlin of the New Orleans Breakers emerging as one of the weekend's top performers. Coghlin made five total field goals, including a long kick of 51 yards, and also made one extra point, accounting for 16 of the Top Dawgs' 22 points in their 22-15 win over the Pittsburgh Maulers. Coghlin's accuracy and leg strength were instrumental in securing the victory for his team.
What I am Looking Forward to in Week 2
The upcoming week in the USFL is set to be an exciting one with a lot of intriguing matchups to look forward to. One of the most exciting things to watch out for will be the debut of Canton Hub, as the Pittsburgh Maulers take on the New Jersey Generals at the Tom Benson Stadium. Both teams are coming off opening weekend losses, and this game will be critical for them to establish themselves early on in the season. The Generals had a dominant 9-1 record last year, while the Maulers struggled with just one win. However, anything can happen in football, and we're excited to see which team will emerge victorious in the first-ever game at Canton Hub.
The USFL is also known for the quarterback battles, and this season is no different. Week 1 saw some great performances from Josh Love, Case Cookus, and Mcleod Bethel-Thompson, who all threw for over 200 yards and 3 TDs. Alex McGough also made a big impact coming off the bench for the Birmingham Stallions. The quarterback position is crucial to a team's success, and the league will be watching to see how they perform throughout the season. While some teams have already found their go-to guy, others are still shuffling quarterbacks, making it an exciting time to watch the league.
Week 1 of the USFL also showcased some excellent performances on the defensive side of the ball. Channing Stribling's interception in the first quarter is a sign of things to come for the defending champion Philadelphia Stars. Breeland Speaks' three sacks in one game puts him at the top of the league, making him a player to watch for opposing QBs. Memphis had five sacks against the Philadelphia Stars, and they will need to keep up the pressure when they face the defending champions, the Birmingham Stallions, this week. With the saying "defense wins championships," it will be critical to see which defensive players and teams continue to assert themselves in the upcoming week.