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Thirty-nine years after the original USFL debuted, the new USFL returned on Saturday night. The Birmingham stallions won the first of 40 games of the regular season with a late touchdown, beating the New Jersey Generals 28-24 in a match broadcast on television by both NBC and Fox.
With the generals leading 24-21 with 1:49 to play, the possibility of overtime – and a two-point penalty from the USFL for resolving it – is looming. But the stallions quickly found themselves not only in the scoring range, but also in a position to win the match in the regulations, thanks to a foul with a face mask that gave Birmingham the ball to New Jersey 20, leaving 48 seconds to the fourth quarter.
Five playoffs later, quarterback J’Mar Smith, who shared time with Alex McGow, ran two yards for the deciding result. New Jersey started the next drive with its 35, but did not go further before the time ran out.
Smith finished 11 of 21 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown. He added 13 rushing yards in three attempts.
Birmingham receiver Osiris Mitchell caught five passes for 96 yards and a touchdown.
For the generals, quarterback D’Andre Johnson (who shared time with incumbent Luis Perez) ran 98 yards and a touchdown. He threw in 59 yards. Perez had 143 assists and two touchdowns.
Generals successor Randy Sutherfield scored the first points of the new USFL with a touchdown reception at the opening. For the game, he caught five passes per 100 yards.
The USFL continues on Sunday with three more games until the end of the first week. It starts on NBC and Peacock at 12:00 ET, while the Michigan Panthers host the Houston Gamblers. All regular season matches will be played in Birmingham.
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