Joshua Mousel 
What a week one kickoff for the USFL. Saturday saw the Stars and Stallions continue last postseasons dominance. USFL Sunday featured Michigan and Pittsburgh, season one’s bottom-ranked teams. Season two of the USFL has made something abundantly clear on opening weekend, the teams are dialed in and are better than ever.
Michigan Panthers vs. Houston Gamblers
The Panthers were a big question mark for me this year. Last year, they just looked flat on offense and defense. But with Jeff Fisher’s departure and Mike Nolan’s promotion, the Panthers look significantly improved. Houston at times had an electric offense, but after losing some key contributors, the defense looked a step too slow.
Michigan’s Josh Love was a star on Sunday. Going 18/20 with 215 yards and 3 touchdowns, the offense was humming with him at the helm. Preseason hype train, Carson Strong, came in for a couple of drives, finishing 5/5 for 34 yards. Stevie Scott III added 61 yards on the ground, making key plays that kept the chains moving. Joe Walker led the team in receiving, going over the century mark (106) and a receiving TD.
Kenji Bahar, at times, looked good. Unfortunately, his two late interceptions cost his team a comeback chance. Bahar would finish the game 13/22 for 109 yards and 2 interceptions. He added 16 yards on the ground. T.J. Pledger and Devwah Whaley combined for 71 rushing yards, with Whaley being the more efficient rusher.
The USFL kicking issues continued in this game, both kickers combined 2/5 on XP attempts, with Michigan kicker Cole Murphy kicking a 35-yard FG.
Next week, Houston goes to Alabama to take on the New Orleans Breakers, while the Panthers take on the Philadelphia Stars in Ohio.
Pittsburgh Maulers vs. New Orleans Breakers
Black and yellow, black and yellow, thank goodness the Maulers are out with the purple and back in the yellows. Unfortunately, the offensive woes continued. The Pittsburgh quarterbacks combined 10/27 or 81 yards, and the team ran for 84 yards. With no offensive TDs, this game should have been a blowout, but the Pittsburgh defense is downright scary. The defense forced and recovered a fumble for a one-yard touchdown. Later in the game, Isiah Hennie returned a pooch punt for a score, and the Maulers missed the XP to take the lead.
The much-anticipated start for McLeod Bethel-Thompson started a bit slow but finished spectacularly as Bethel-Thompson threw a 2-yard TD to Anthony Jones, for the only offensive TD of the game with 1:13 to go. MBT threw for 302 yards on 23/41 passing. Anthony Jones was a focal point in the offense, converting 25 touches into 75 yards and the only TD. Sage Surratt, Jonathan Adams, and Lee Morris all had over 50 yards receiving (85, 70, and 51 respectively).
Matt Coughlin was the Breakers MVP for week one, going an impressive 5/5 on FGs, his longest being 51 yards. Coughlin also converted his only XP attempt.
New Orleans is at home again as they take on the Houston Gamblers, While the Maulers host the New Jersey Generals.
