USFL Week 6 highlights: Philadelphia Stars beat New Orleans Breakers
There are some great matchups on the schedule in Week 6 of the USFL, and we've got you covered with all the action from a Sunday slate that includes a pair of contests.
The Philadelphia Stars (3-3) began the day by defeating the New Orleans Breakers (4-2). Later, the New Jersey Generals (2-3) will do battle with the Houston Gamblers (3-2).
Yesterday, the Memphis Showboats (3-3) dominated the Pittsburgh Maulers (2-4), 22-0, while the Birmingham Stallions (4-2) took down the Michigan Panthers (2-4), 27-13.
See the full list of regular-season week-by-week matchups here.
Here are the top moments!
FINAL: Philadelphia Stars 16, New Orleans Breakers 10
Big play sets up FG
New Orleans went three-and-out on the opening possession, which was followed by Philadelphia getting points on the board.
The impetus of the drive was Stars quarterback Case Cookus hitting wide receiver Corey Coleman for a 29-yard completion, as shown below. With that said, the Stars were unable to reach the end zone, settling for a 21-yard field goal from Luis Aguilar.
Philadelphia led 3-0 after the first quarter.
Another FG drive
The Breakers pinned the Stars at their own 8-yard line late in the first quarter. Philadelphia then got out of its own red zone, pushing the ball down the field. On back-to-back plays, Cookus hit running back Dexter Williams and Coleman for a pair of completions that combined for 41 yards. Once again, though, the Stars had to settle for a field goal.
Pick-6!
New Orleans moved the ball into Philadelphia territory on the ensuing possession before disaster struck.
On third-and-7 from the Philadelphia 39-yard line, Breakers quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson had his pass intercepted by Stars cornerback Amani Dennis, who ran the pick back 72 yards for a touchdown. The score gave Philadelphia a 13-0 lead.
Making a play
The Breakers got on the board late in the first half to make it a one-score game.
A 13-play drive that saw New Orleans convert a fourth down ended with Bethel-Thompson hitting wide receiver Johnnie Dixon for a contested third down touchdown pass near the goal line.
Philadelphia led 13-7 at halftime.
3-pointer
New Orleans continued to cut into Philadelphia's lead after the latter went three-and-out on the opening possession of the second half.
After getting to the Philadelphia 47-yard line, Bethel-Thompson completed a pair of passes to wide receiver Dee Anderson and Dixon that combined for 32 yards, getting the Breakers into the red zone. The drive later stalled, though, ending with a 44-yard field goal from Matt Coghlin. The Breakers trailed 13-10.
Yikes!
On the second play of the ensuing drive, Cookus scrambled to his right and made a costly mistake before going out of bounds, as he tossed the ball to Breakers defensive back Nevelle Clark.
After the play, Stars wide receiver Terry Wright was ejected for throwing a punch. New Orleans took over at the Philadelphia 29-yard line but was unable to get a first down. Coghlin then missed a 42-yard field goal.
The Stars led 13-10 after the third quarter.
ANOTHER pick
The Stars were moving the ball before Cookus was intercepted again. This time around, cornerback Alex Thomas pulled off the diving pick and was ruled down at the Breakers' 2-yard line.
Picked!
Stars safety LaDarius Wiley was called for pass interference to extend the Breakers' next drive, but he made up for it by corralling a tipped pass later in the drive.
Chaotic drive
Two plays after Cookus took off for 16 yards, the Stars quarterback hooked up with wide receiver Diondre Overton for a 37-yard completion, putting them in the red zone. With that said, they committed a pair of penalties on two would-be touchdown plays and had to settle for a 24-yard field goal from Aguilar.
The Stars led 16-10 with 3:12 remaining in the fourth quarter.
New Orleans proceeded to turn it over on downs and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty put the ball on its own 31-yard line for Philadelphia. Aguilar later missed a 44-yard field goal, but the Breakers couldn't pull off a miracle on the final play.
Pregame scene