Pittsburgh Maulers top Michigan in overtime to reach USFL championship game
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It took two overtime “innings” in a “shootout” format to decide a winner, but the Pittsburgh Maulers find themselves in the USFL championship game for the first time after a thrilling 31-27 victory over the Michigan Panthers in the USFL semifinals Saturday night at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
Maulers quarterback Troy Williams threw a TD pass to Mason Stokke in the first inning of overtime and ran for a 2-yard score in the second inning, and the Maulers defense stopped Michigan on its first two attempts to secure the victory.
When @TroyWilliams_3 converted our 2nd possession in OT! ⚒️pic.twitter.com/WxMs4kE5XV — Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) June 25, 2023
The Panthers’ Stevie Scott III fumbled as he reached for the goal line on their first attempt and the officials overturned a touchdown call. On their second attempt, the Maulers’ Olive Sagapolu batted down a pass to seal the North Division championship.
THE MAULERS WIN THE NORTH IN OT ⚒ pic.twitter.com/5z591PhMOt — USFL (@USFL) June 25, 2023
“We needed everybody, every man that was available,” Maulers coach Ray Horton said on the NBC telecast.
“What I’m hoping this is the genesis of a good team. We needed every single man. The offense stepped up big time.”
The Maulers (5-6) advanced to play Sunday’s winner of Birmingham (8-2) and New Orleans (7-3) in the USFL championship game at 8 p.m. July 1 at Tom Benson Stadium.
It was a wild ending to a frantic finish by both teams in the final minutes.
The Maulers took a 20-17 lead on Chris Blewitt’s 59-yard field goal with 3:16 remaining. The longest field goal in the USFL this season gave the Maulers a chance for the first USFL playoff win in franchise history, but they were a long way from finishing it off.
THE 59-YARD FIELD GOAL FROM CHRIS BLEWITT IS GOOD! We lead 20-17! ⚒️pic.twitter.com/Ibf3o7szKB — Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) June 25, 2023
Michigan (4-7) answered and pulled ahead 24-20 on a touchdown pass that was, then wasn’t, then was again a score.
E.J. Perry’s 55-yard touchdown pass to receiver Trey Quinn with 2:04 left was initially called back because of a facemask penalty at the line of scrimmage, but after an officials’ review, the call was reversed and the touchdown stood.
The Pittsburgh Maulers were soon after, in actuality, down to their final snap of the season.
That’s when Williams hit Ishmael Hyman for a touchdown on a 6-yard slant route on fourth and goal with 39 seconds left to give the Maulers a 27-24 lead.
That proved to be enough time for Michigan to drive into Maulers territory, and Cole Murphy’s 47-yard field goal as time expired to sent the game into overtime.
The USFL’s overtime format includes a best-of-three shootout format, where teams alternate “innings” from the 2-yard line. Two points are awarded for each score. The team with the most points after those three innings wins.
Because the Maulers stopped Michigan’s first two attempts, a third inning was not necessary.
Michigan opened the scoring on its first drive, marching 66 yards in 15 players, capped by Murphy’s 23-yard field goal.
The Maulers tied the game 3-3 with 4:20 left in the first quarter when Blewitt, a former Pitt kicker, booted a 45-yard field goal.
The Maulers’ defense came through with a big play to set up another score. Sagapolu forced a fumble by Michigan running back Reggie Corbin, and defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr. recovered for Pittsburgh at the Panthers’ 13-yard line.
Four plays later, running back Garrett Groshek scored on a 2-yard run for a 10-3 Maulers lead.
Late in the second quarter, Maulers’ linebacker Kyahva Tezino recovered a fumble and Tre Tarpley III intercepted Perry, but the Maulers weren’t able to turn either turnover into points before halftime.
The Panthers tallied 14 points in the third quarter to pull ahead. Perry scored on a 6-yard TD run to tie the game at 10. After the Panthers forced a quick three and out, Perry immediately found receiver Marcus Simms for a 72-yard strike down the middle of the field to give Michigan a 17-10 lead with 4:21 left in the third quarter.
The Maulers responded and tied the score at 17 when wide receiver Bailey Gaither took a handoff into the end zone from 4 yards out with 13:36 remaining in the game to cap a nine-play, 65-yard drive.
Williams finished 23 of 40 for 203 yards and a score and also ran for 36 yards. Isiah Hennie had six catches for 83 yards.
For the Panthers, Perry completed 23 of 38 passes for 370 yards and two scores. Quinn caught five passes for 104 yards and a TD, and Simms had three catches for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Source: TribLIVE
