Coach Holtz Leads the Birmingham Stallions to A Second Straight USFL Championship – Northeast Ohio Sports Fans Provide a Huge Crowd

Photo by Al Kornspan

Canton – In a great start to the July 4th weekend here in Northeast Ohio, Coach Skip Holtz led the Birmingham Stallions to a 28-12 victory and a second straight USFL Championship in front of his father, legendary Notre Dame head football coach, Lou Holtz.

It was a festive atmosphere at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio as fans were treated to a great pre-game concert with national recording artist Dylan Scott.

After the concert in the Hall of Fame Village, a huge crowd flocked into the stadium to watch an exciting USFL Championship Game.

The first quarter saw former Pitt Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers kicker, Chris Blewitt, connect on a 37-yard field goal to give the Maulers a 3-0 lead.

However, the Stallions would score two touchdowns in the second quarter, while the Maulers added two field goals by Chris Blewitt.

The Stallions scored their first points of the game when USFL  MVP, Alex McGough (18-25, 243 yards, 4 touchdowns), connected with former Sam Houston State and Minnesota Vikings receiver, Davion Davis, on a 42-yard touchdown pass.

The Maulers added three points on Blewitt’s 36-yard field goal with 3:01 remaining in the first half.  

The Stallions answered the Maulers field goal as McGough completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to the 2023 USFL Championship Game MVP, Deon Cain (four catches for 70 yards, and three touchdowns), with 31 seconds in the first half to extend the Stallions lead to 14-6.

Blewitt added a 55-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to bring the halftime score to 14-9.

In the second half, Deon Cain caught his second touchdown of the night with 10:29 left in the third quarter. 

Chris Blewitt added his fourth field goal of the game for the Maulers with 7:45 left in the third quarter to bring the score to 21-12.

The turning point in the game occurred shortly thereafter.  

The Maulers appeared to have returned a fumble for a touchdown with 47 seconds left in the third quarter. That touchdown possibly could have tied the game if the Maulers would have decided to go for a three point conversion after the touchdown.

However, after the officials reviewed the video, the ball was brought back to the spot that a forward handoff had been determined to have occurred during the run back of the fumble. 

The Maulers did not score on the next offensive possession.

Birmingham scored their final touchdown on Alex McGough’s fourth touchdown pass of the night to former Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers Receiver, Deon Cain, who caught his third touchdown of the game. 

McGough connected with Cain on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 6:28 left in the game.

As the game ended there was an exciting post-game celebration as the USFL Championship Trophy was presented.

Northeast Ohio sports fans certainly have a great appetite for football and it was great to see such a huge crowd in Canton at the Pro Football Hall of Fame to witness the excitement!