Former Pitt kicker Chris Blewitt sets USFL record as Pittsburgh Maulers earn 1st victory of season
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Chris Blewitt made quite an impact in his debut with the Pittsburgh Maulers on Sunday.
But the former Pitt kicker had some help leading the Maulers to their first victory of the season.
Blewitt connected on a USFL-record five field goals, and wide receiver Bailey Gaither scored the team’s first offensive TD of the season as the Maulers defeated the Philadelphia Stars, 21-13, on Sunday afternoon at Ford Field in Detroit.
Blewitt, who is Pitt’s all-time leader in field goals made (55) and second all-time in total points (363), signed with the Maulers on Thursday to replace the recently released Nathan Hierlihy, who was 2 for 4 on field-goal attempts and 0 of 1 on point-after attempts in the Maulers’ first two games.
Blewitt hit field goals of 46, 50, 24, 34 and 35 yards.
“When he first came in (at practice Thursday), he was just warming up and he kept moving back and back and back and back, and we brought the whole group up just to put a little pressure on him, and he made a 62-yarder with room to spare,” Maulers coach Ray Horton said. “I think the guys thought, ‘here we go!’ Little things mean a lot. Chris means a lot to us.”
Chris Blewitt ties a USFL record with his 5th FG of the game! ????
????: @nbc | @peacock pic.twitter.com/dCX6HgmbzR
— Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) April 30, 2023
The Maulers (1-2) capitalized on a turnover later in the third quarter to score their first offensive touchdown of the season.
After a strip sack by defensive lineman Olive Sagapolu and fumble recovery by defensive lineman Boogie Roberts, the Maulers took over at the Stars’ 18-yard line.
FUMBLE!!! @OSagapolu with the strip sack, @boogiethegoat8 with the recovery!!! Look at the team boogey in the endzone ????
????: @nbc | @peacock pic.twitter.com/DWgczjoWz0
— Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) April 30, 2023
"It's all about the ball. Get the ball over to the offense and let them do the rest."
Lewis Johnson recaps the strip sack that gave the @USFLMaulers the ball to led to the touchdown ⚒ ⬇️
????: @nbc | @peacock pic.twitter.com/OQsuaSXM9h
— USFL (@USFL) April 30, 2023
Running back Garrett Groshek gave the Maulers a first down with a pair of runs, and then QB Troy Williams tossed an 8-yard TD pass to Gaither for a 21-10 lead.
“It feels good. The defense has been playing amazing all year. It’s good for the offense to come together today and get one in there,” Williams said on the NBC telecast after the game. “I felt like this was a team win — coaches, players, staff, everybody. It’s great for us to go back home, reset and get ready for next week.”
After managing 18 total points in losses to New Orleans and New Jersey, crossing the goal line for the first time on offense was a welcome sign for Horton and Co.
“I thought it was our offense’s best week of practice so you could kind of see this coming,” Horton said. “The defense has been playing solid, and the special teams — with Chris the new addition — has been outstanding really the whole time. … I’m glad they all decided to show up on the same day.”
BAILEY. GAITHER. ????????@TroyWilliams_3 ➡️ @BaileyGaither__ pic.twitter.com/h1mtgliLRs
— Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) April 30, 2023
The Maulers’ defense sealed the win by forcing turnovers on the Stars’ next two drives and a turnover on downs on their final march into the red zone.
Linebacker Reuben Foster and safety Eli Walker intercepted Stars QB Case Cookus on consecutive drives, and defensive back Mark Gilbert batted down a fourth-down passing attempt in the end zone in the final seconds.
“I have a lot of respect for that offense,” Horton said. “The defensive coaches came up with a great gameplan to confuse, diffuse and just really understand what they are doing. Our players, I think, trust the coaches where everything is for them.”
THAT'S OUR BALL! @ferrarifoster with the INT!
????: @nbc | @peacock pic.twitter.com/7d2byzzOBA
— Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) April 30, 2023
That’s an interception for @elijahwalker_6 ???????? pic.twitter.com/VfRljPg4sy
— Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) April 30, 2023
For the Maulers, Williams completed 10 of 18 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown and added 65 rushing yards.
Foster led the defense with 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, two passes defensed and an interception.
Philadelphia (1-2) took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Cookus connected with Corey Coleman for a 24-yard score. Luis Aguilar added two field goals for the Stars. Cookus completed 23 of 36 passes for 238 yards.
The Maulers will be back in action May 7 with a home game against the Birmingham Stallions at 6:30 p.m. at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. The game will be televised on FS1.
“I hope what happens is the guys trust and believe in the process of what we’re doing,” Horton said. “… We’ll try and just build. Success and confidence go hand in hand.”
BROUGHT THE HAMMER! ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/z7m5Xozhx0
— Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) April 30, 2023