The USFL kicked off its first season at Protective Stadium in Birmingham this weekend, and players from Alabama high schools and colleges made themselves right at home.
In the first game in the new football league’s history, the Birmingham Stallions defeated the New Jersey Generals 28-24 on Sunday, even though the Generals got touchdown receptions from wide receiver Randy Satterfield from Jemison High School and West Alabama and tight end Braedon Bowman from South Alabama.
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In the Houston Gamblers’ 17-12 victory over the Michigan Panthers on Sunday, Gamblers defensive end Ahmad Gooden from Talladega High School and Samford recorded two sacks and forced three fumbles.
The leading receiver for the New Orleans Breakers in their 23-17 victory over the Philadelphia Stars on Sunday was tight end Sal Cannella from Auburn.
In Tampa Bay’s 17-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Maulers on Monday night, the Bandits got a touchdown from running back BJ Emmons from Alabama. The Bandits-Maulers game was rescheduled from Sunday night because of bad weather.
A rundown on the players with Alabama football roots from Week 1 of the USFL season:
New Jersey Generals tight end Braedon Bowman runs after making a reception during a USFL game against the Birmingham Stallions on Saturday, April 16, 2022, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Birmingham Stallions 28, New Jersey Generals 24
· Generals tight end Braedon Bowman (South Alabama) caught three passes for 32 yards and one touchdown. Bowman caught a 13-yard touchdown pass as New Jersey took a 14-7 lead with 9:08 left in the first half.
· Generals cornerback Trae Elston (Oxford) made one tackle. Elston headed into the weekend on New Jersey’s practice squad, but an injury opened a spot on the active roster that he filled.
· Stallions cornerback Tae Hayes (Decatur) tied for the team lead with 10 tackles, including nine solo stops. He also broke up a pass.
· Stallions offensive tackle Justice Powers (UAB) did not record any stats.
· Generals wide receiver Randy Satterfield (Jemison, West Alabama) caught five passes for 100 yards and one touchdown. On the first snap in the first game of the USFL’s first season, Satterfield caught a 49-yard pass. He also scored the league’s inaugural touchdown by capping New Jersey’s first possession with a 3-yard reception with 11:45 left in the first quarter.
· Generals cornerback Christian Tutt (Auburn) made two tackles.
· Stallions wide receiver Marlon Williams (McGill-Toolen) was targeted five times but did not record a reception. He did have a tackle on special teams.
Houston Gamblers defensive end Ahmad Gooden causes Michigan Panthers quarterback Shea Patterson to fumble during a USFL game on Sunday, April 17, 2022, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Houston Gamblers 17, Michigan Panthers 12
· Gamblers tight end Brandon Barnes (Russell County, Alabama State) was targeted three times but did not have a reception. Houston completed 10-of-18 passes for 81 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 100 yards in the game.
· Gamblers inside linebacker Beniquez Brown (Florence) did not record any stats.
· Gamblers defensive end Ahmad Gooden (Talladega, Samford) made nine tackles, recorded two sacks and forced three fumbles. On one of the fumbles, Gooden knocked the football away from Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson, and Houston linebacker Reggie Northrup picked it up and ran 87 yards for a touchdown as the Gamblers took an 11-0 lead with 14:42 left in the first half.
· Gamblers defensive tackle Cory Thomas (McAdory) made five tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage.
· Gamblers kicker Nick Vogel (UAB) made a 37-yard field goal for the first points of the game with 7:03 left in the first quarter. Vogel missed a 27-yard field-goal attempt with 38 seconds left in the first half.
· Gamblers cornerback Ryan White (Auburn) did not record any stats.
· Gamblers offensive tackle John Yarbrough (Homewood) did not record any stats.
New Orleans Breakers tight end Sal Cannella runs after making a reception during a USFL game against the Philadelphia Stars on Sunday, April 17, 2022, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.(Photo by Rob Carr/USFL/Getty Images)
New Orleans Breakers 23, Philadelphia Stars 17
· Breakers tight end Sal Cannella (Auburn) led New Orleans with six receptions for 58 yards.
· Breakers defensive tackle Connor Christian (Jacksonville State) did not record any stats.
· Breakers kicker Austin MacGinnis (Prattville) made 1-of-2 extra-point attempts and missed a 40-yard field-goal attempt.
· Breakers guard Steven Rowzee (Troy) did not record any stats.
· Breakers cornerback Keith Washington II (Prattville) did not record any stats.
Tampa Bay Bandits running back BJ Emmons leaps ahead during a USFL game against the Pittsburgh Maulers on Monday, April 18, 2022, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.(Photo by Carmen Mandato/USFL/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Bandits 17, Pittsburgh Maulers 3
· Bandits cornerback Christian Campbell (Central-Phenix City) made three tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage.
· Bandits running back BJ Emmons (Alabama) ran for 40 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries and caught three passes for 23 yards. Emmons capped Tampa Bay’s opening possession with a 3-yard touchdown run with 10:49 left in the first quarter. Emmons had three carries for 10 yards and caught a 19-yard pass on the eight-play, 66-yard drive.
· Bandits wide receiver John Franklin III (Auburn) was targeted twice but did not have a reception. Franklin started Monday on Tampa Bay’s practice squad but was elevated to the active roster to fill an injury vacancy.
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Week 2 of the USFL season kicks off at 7 p.m. CDT Friday when the Panthers and Generals square off at Protective Stadium. USA will televise the game.
On Saturday at Protective Stadium, the Maulers and Stars meet at 11 a.m. on FOX and the Stallions and Gamblers play at 6 p.m. on FOX Sports 1.
The second week wraps up at 2 p.m. Sunday at Protective Stadium with the Breakers-Bandits game on NBC and Peacock.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
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