CANTON, Ohio – Amani Davis’ interception with 30 seconds remaining sealed the game after All-USFL Special Teams member Maurice Alexander scored the game-winning touchdown on an 87-yard punt return, giving Philadelphia a berth in the USFL Championship Game after a 19-14 victory over New Jersey on Saturday afternoon. The contest was played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Stars quarterback Case Cookus was 10-for-20 for 133 yards and ran for 39 yards and one score. On defense, Mazzi Wilkins had one interception for 83 yards and Gabriel Sewell, Jr. recorded a team-high seven tackles.
Generals quarterback Luis Perez threw for a game-high 191 yards, completing 19-of-25 attempts. All-USFL offense team selection Darius Victor ran for a game-best 64-yards and one touchdown. Receiver Darrius Shepherd pulled in five balls for 91 yards. On the other side of the ball, Mike Bell, Jr. forced one fumble and picked off one pass. All-USFL defensive team selection Shalom Luani and Paris Ford each had seven tackles. All-USFL special teams selection KaVonte Turpin took his only punt return 87-yards to paydirt.
Philadelphia took the opening drive 37-yards culminating with a Luis Aguliar39-yard field goal at the 8:24 mark of the first quarter.
New Jersey had its first chance to score when they started a lengthy drive at their own 8-yard line. They went 12 plays and 64 yards before Perez was intercepted by Wilkins at the Philadelphia 4-yard line. Wilkins took the ball 83 yards to the New Jersey 13-yard line. Two plays later, Cookus called his own number for an 8-yard touchdown. Aguliar’s extra point made the score 10-0 at the 9:23 mark of the second quarter.
On the 2nd half kickoff, Philadelphia’s Chris Rowland recovered a Cam Echols-Luper fumble at the New Jersey 36. Two plays later, a Matt Colburn, II 14-yard rush brought the Stars into the red zone at New Jersey 15. However, Bell, Jr. intercepted Cookus at the 9-yard line and returned the ball to the NJ 28-yard line.
A Generals’ penalty on the play moved the ball back to their 14-yard line. Two plays later, Perez found Shepherd for a 63-yard catch and run to the Philadelphia 6-yard line. Victor would punch the ball in from on 4th and goal from the 1-yard line to get New Jersey on the board. Caden Novikoff’s point after was good, making the score 10-7 at 9:51.
On Philadelphia’s first possession of the 4th quarter, Cookus had three straight incompletions, resulting in a punt. Aguilar’s punt landed at the NJ 22-yard line and returned 87-yards to the house by Turpin. Novikoff made the PAT and with 10:46 left in the game, New Jersey had its first lead at 14-10.
Aguilar’s second field goal of the game made the score 14-13 with 5:59 remaining.
At the two minute warning, New Jersey was facing a 4th and 12 from its own 45-yrd line. Brock Miller’s punt landed at the Philadelphia 13. Alexander took it 87-yards to the end zone for the game-winner. The two point attempt was no good and the score stood at 19-14.
Philadelphia will play the winner of tonight’s South Division championship game, Birmingham or New Orleans on Sunday, July 3. The game will be played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
