The Stallions were heading into this game struggling with a mysterious illness that saw 7 players listed as inactive. Despite being shorthanded, and without J’Mar Smith under center the team rallied around Alex McGough and the defense to beat Tampa Bay 16-10.
McGough, who was listed as probable after recovering from his week 1 ankle injury came in and went 14-of-26 for 126 yards, adding 39 yards and a TD on the ground. He was able to keep the offense on the rails and play turnover free football, and was a big part of this win.
Most of the scoring in Birmingham was done by kicker Brandon Aubrey, who continues to prove himself as the USFL’s most reliable kicker, and it’s not even close. He went 3/4 on field goals and added an extra point to lead the team with 10 points. With a long of 49, his reliability and range are a huge asset to this team.
The defense came up in a big way too, holding the Bandits to 10, and racking up 3 sacks along the way. Scooby Wright III, Brody Buck (who had just been called up to the active roster) and Willie Yarbrough all got to the quarterback, and they were able to limit Jordan Ta’amu’s effectiveness all day long with pressure. Looked like they had some fun doing it too.
The Stallions and Shark-Dog nation are clearly the team to beat in the USFL, and what’s most impressive is how they always find different ways to win. Whether it’s lighting teams up through the air, setting loose their run game, or just grinding it out on defense and letting Brandon Aubrey do the scoring, Birmingham looks incredible in all phases. Big testament to Skip Holtz’s coaching ability and strategizing.
They’ll look to continue the streak in Week 5 vs the Philadelphia Stars on Sunday the 15th at 10:00 am MDT.
