Deon Cain’s late kickoff return touchdown lifts Birmingham Stallions past Pittsburgh Maulers
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The Pittsburgh Maulers looked to be in line for a second straight victory Sunday night.
It took 11 seconds for that to change.
Deon Cain’s highlight-reel 91-yard kickoff return with 6 minutes, 52 seconds remaining gave the defending USFL champion Birmingham Stallions a 23-20 win over the Maulers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
“Our special teams are one of our strengths,” Maulers coach Ray Horton said. “We count on those guys all the time. Our kicker is outstanding. That’s something we don’t expect to happen anytime because that’s one of the strengths of our team.”
91-yards to the house ????????????
— USFL (@USFL) May 8, 2023
The Maulers (1-3) pulled ahead 20-17 when quarterback Troy Williams ran for a 34-yard score. Williams faked a handoff and then sprinted along the far sideline to the end zone.
TROY TAKES IT ALL THE WAY! ⚒️@TroyWilliams_3 pic.twitter.com/WhiYIWKGkw
— Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) May 8, 2023
Chris Blewitt’s ensuing kickoff, however, landed in the waiting arms of Cain, who weaved past six Maulers en route to a 91-yard kickoff return.
A week after booting a USFL-record five field goals in a 21-13 win over the Philadelphia Stars, Blewitt drilled four more for the Maulers, converting from 20, 22, 27 and 46 yards.
Three of those kicks, however, were the result of the Maulers not being able to punch it in to the end zone when inside the 20-yard line.
“We have to keep trying different things,” Williams said of the offense. “I feel like we keep getting better as a unit, week by week. We have to continue to do that. We see how pivotal that is. … We have to make it easier on the defense and for ourselves by punching it in when we get down there.”
The Maulers held a 9-0 lead before Brandon Aubrey kicked a 37-yard field goal late in the first half.
Birmingham (3-1) added another score 8 seconds before halftime when quarterback Alex McGough scrambled for a 5-yard TD and a 10-9 lead.
Blewitt’s fourth field goal put the Maulers ahead 12-10 in the third quarter, but the Stallions responded with 9:56 left in the fourth. McGough found Davion Davis for a 9-yard score and a 17-12 lead.
“The defense kept them out of the end zone three times down there in the red zone (in the first half),” Stallions coach Skip Holtz said on the FS1 broadcast. “Then, we were able to get that score there right before the half.
“It was a hard-fought game. Coach Horton has done an unbelievable job with that team. Their defense is solid, and they play tough. Tough loss for them, but I’m certainly glad our players were able to endure at the end.”
Williams’ 34-yard TD run and Isiah Hennie’s 2-point conversion put the Maulers back ahead by three, setting up Cain’s ensuing heroics.
“The Maulers beat the Maulers,” Horton said. “We gave up a touchdown on special teams. We are 0 of 3 in the red zone. And on the third and 9, we gave up a defensive touchdown. And that was the game.”
For the Maulers, Williams completed 20 of 32 passes for 210 yards. He also had a team-high 63 rushing yards.
Kyahva Tezino led the defense with 11 tackles. Keith Gipson Jr. and Mark Gilbert each had interceptions.
“There are no moral victories,” Horton said. “There’s only victories on the scoreboard, but we’re headed in the right direction. I love the character and heart of the men here.”
For the Stallions, McGough completed 17 of 29 passes for 204 yards and two TDs and also ran for 47 yards and a score.
The Maulers will be back in action at 12:30 p.m. Saturday when they travel to Ford Field in Detroit to play the Michigan Panthers (2-2). The game will be televised on USA.