Week 1 of the 2023 USFL season concluded Sunday night with the New Orleans Breakers defeating the Pittsburgh Maulers in Birmingham.
Earlier on Sunday, the Michigan Panthers defeated the Houston Gamblers in Memphis 29-13.
Check out the full regular season weekly matchups here.
Here are the best plays!
FINAL: New Orleans Breakers 22, Pittsburgh Maulers 15
Optimal field position
Tre Walker took the opening kickoff for Pittsburgh and then lateraled the ball to Bailey Gaither, who ran the ball down to the New Orleans 41-yard line.
What a catch!
Three plays down the sideline, Walker made a remarkable catch near the sideline for a 23-yard gain.
Nathan Hierlihy later hit a 37-yard field goal, giving the Maulers a 3-0 lead.
The big play sets the score
McLeod Bethel-Thompson hit wide receiver Jonathan Adams for a 37-yard gain on the Breakers’ opening possession, putting them at the 5-yard line.
That said, New Orleans had to settle for a field goal after a third-down sack by Boogie Roberts.
From the depths
Matt Coghlin drilled a 51-yard field goal late in the first quarter, giving the Breakers a 6-3 lead.
The accuracy
From the Breakers’ 39-yard line, Maulers punter Matt Mengel, assisted by Gaither, pinned New Orleans at its own 1-yard line.
Defensive result
On first down, Pittsburgh linebacker Reuben Foster stripped running back Anthony Jones, and Kyahva Tezino recovered the loose ball in the end zone for the touchdown. The Maulers, however, were unable to convert a two-point conversion. They led 9-6.
After a fumble, Kyahva Tezino recovers and scores a touchdown to give the Maulers a 9-6 lead over the Breakers.
After a fumble, Kyahva Tezino recovered and scored a touchdown to give the Pittsburgh Maulers a 9-6 lead over the New Orleans Breakers.
Making it happen
Two plays after Bethel-Thompson hit Johnnie Dixon for a 27-yard pickup, the quarterback evaded a sack and took off for a 12-yard run. New Orleans drove into the red zone but settled for their third field goal, tying the score at nine apiece.
Chaotic conclusion to the first half
Hierlihy missed a 42-yard field goal on the next possession, but New Orleans was called for running the kicker, extending Pittsburgh’s possession. Four plays later, Hierlihy’s 34-yard field goal was blocked, ending the first half.
Drive stops
The Breakers got a lifeline on the first possession of the second half after the Maulers were called for offsides on fourth-and-4. Bethel-Thompson then went on a string of 12, 23 and 11 yards, the third going to Adams, but they couldn’t get the ball into the end zone, and settled for a field goal.
ANOTHER FG
Bethel-Thompson and the Breakers moved the ball in the air again on their next drive…
… but they settled for a fifth field goal. New Orleans led 15-9 late in the third quarter.
Goal line stand
Walker ran the ensuing kickoff to the Pittsburgh 46-yard line. Five plays later, New Orleans was called for a personal foul on an out-of-bounds hit by quarterback James Morgan, who proceeded to complete a 12-yard pass to Walker. Garrett Groshek then ran it down to the 1-yard line.
Despite pulling within inches of the goal line, however, the Maulers were stopped on four consecutive plays, turning over turnovers.
TIE GAME
New Orleans got the ball past midfield, but was forced to punt. Pittsburgh’s Isiah Hennie ran the punt back 82 yards for a touchdown.
Maulers’ Isiah Hennie completes WILD 82-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Breakers
Isiah Hennie of the Pittsburgh Maulers returned a punt for a touchdown to tie the score against the New Orleans Breakers.
Hierlihy, however, missed the extra point and kept the game tied at 15.
high flying
Pittsburgh punted the ball out of bounds, putting the ball on the 50-yard line. Three plays later, Bethel-Thompson got to his feet, scrambling and leaping for the heroic first down on third-and-4 for the Breakers.
Breakers’ McLeod Bethel-Thompson connects with Anthony Jones for two-yard TD to take final lead against Maulers
McLeod Bethel-Thompson connected with Anthony Jones at the two-yard line to help the New Orleans Breakers take a 22-15 lead over the Pittsburgh Maulers.
TD!
Later on the aforementioned drive, Bethel-Thompson connected with tight end Sage Surratt on a 35-yard completion.
Three plays later, the Breakers scored their first touchdown.
On third-and-goal, Bethel-Thompson hit Jones for the goal-line score, putting New Orleans up for good.
Pre-match chat
The setting
Entering
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