NORTH DIVISION PLAYOFF
Philadelphia Stars 19
New Jersey Generals 14
FINAL
Third Time For Philadelphia Stars Is A Charm
Philadelphia opened the scoring with a first-quarter field goal.
With the Generals threatening deep inside Philadelphia territory in the second quarter, Luis Perez, under duress, was intercepted at the Stars' three-yard line, which was returned to the Generals' 13-yard line. Philadelphia quickly converted the turnover into six points when Case Cookus kept it himself into the end zone for a 10-0 lead at the half.
In the third quarter, Luis Perez and Darrius Shepherd connected on a 59-yard strike putting the ball on the Philadelphia five-yard line. Darius Victor punched it for a touchdown to bring the Generals within three.
New Jersey found themselves in retreat during their first offensive possession of the fourth quarter, penalty after penalty being the cause - case in point, being faced with a 4th and 32 with eleven minutes left.
The Generals' defense held on Philadelphia's next possession. KaVontae Turpin then accomplished what the offense was failing to do: score points. He returned kicker Luis Aguilar's punt 78-yards for a touchdown giving the Generals a 14-10 lead with just over ten minutes left.
Another defensive stand by New Jersey limited the Stars to a field goal with six minutes left.
On the Generals' next possession, Darius Victor gained a first down with 4:30 left, followed by a twelve-yard rumble. Coach Riley then inserted and extracted De'Andre Johnson on several plays. The strategy failed as the Generals were stuffed on a 2nd and 12 attempt. Afterwhich, the Stars wisely called a time-out. Faced with a 3rd and 11, Luis Perez was reinserted at quarterback and got sacked just before the two-minute warning.
When play resumed, Philadelphia's Maurice Alexander returned Brock Miller's punt 87 yards for a touchdown with 1:41 left on the clock. The Stars botched the extra points attempt but nevertheless seized a 19-14 lead.
Unfortunately, New Jersey's next possession was just as ineffective as any other they'd attempted this afternoon. Philadelphia should be credited for mounting sustained pressure. More misplays and penalties, a batted pass attempt at the line of scrimmage on a 1st and 15 play, were all merely preludes of what was to come. On a 1st and 10 with 0:41 on the clock, Luis Perez was hit in the pocket by defensive end Adam Rodriguez, and his pass was subsequently picked off by cornerback Amani Dennis at the Philadelphia 17-yard line.
Like that, the New Jersey Generals' wildly successful relaunch ends abruptly. In this instance, the old football axiom held true: beating teams three times in one season is hard. The teams were very evenly matched. However, the Generals could not survive three turnovers. Ultimately, special teams proved the decisive factor for both combatants.
Philadelphia may have lost both regular-season games against the Generals, but I left off last week saying the Stars were closing the gap, especially in this back-to-back weeks scenario.
Saturday's defeat was New Jersey's first since losing the season opener to the Birmingham Stallions, who will now play Philadelphia in next week's USFL championship game.
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I entered the season with an open mind knowing this would in no way resemble the league I once enjoyed watching back in the 1980s. That league drafted and signed top-tier college talents who played alongside many former NFL players who either jumped leagues for the money, were looking to get back in league favor, or were merely extending their careers. I'm happy to say I'm one of the many local fans who would occasionally help sell out New Jersey Generals games at Giants Stadium. Watching the Generals march to a 9-1 regular season made for an enjoyable spring. They played very intriguing football, and I look forward to this league growing into something more compatible with its predecessor.
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