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USFL scores Week 1: Live updates, results, highlights from Sunday’s games

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The USFL’s 2022 season kicked off Saturday with a tilt featuring the New Jersey Generals and Birmingham Stallions. On Sunday, the rest of the league’s eight teams will be facing off in a tripleheader to cap off Week 1 of the league’s 10-week regular season.

The first game of the day will start at noon ET and feature the Houston Gamblers and Michigan Panthers. The Panthers have one of the most recognizable coach-quarterback combinations: longtime NFL coach Jeff Fisher and former Michigan starter Shea Patterson. The Gamblers will rely on former Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin and former Eagles fifth-round pick Clayton Thorson to carry their offense.

After the Gamblers and Panthers wrap up, the Philadelphia Stars and New Orleans Breakers will face off at 5 p.m. ET. The Breakers have one of the strongest-looking rosters in the USFL and are helmed by the offensive-minded Larry Fedora, who most recently coached at North Carolina. He will look to turn the Breakers into a Kyle Sloter-led offensive juggernaut. As for the Stars, coach Bart Andrus will rely on former CFL quarterback Bryan Scott.

The final game of the day, at 9 p.m. ET, will be between the Tampa Bay Bandits and Pittsburgh Maulers in what could be a grind-it-out affair. Both Todd Haley’s Bandits and Kirby Wilson’s Maulers have good-looking defenses that should be among the USFL’s best. The Bandits may have an advantage in this matchup given that Jordan Ta’amu, who was strong as a starter in the XFL in 2020, is their top quarterback.

Sporting News is tracking the action from the USFL’s first tripleheader of the season. Follow along for the latest news, updates and highlights from Sunday’s action. 

USFL COVERAGE:

Philadelphia Stars vs. New Orleans Breakers live updates, highlights

Updates on the Breakers vs. Stars game will be provided when it begins at 5 p.m. ET.

Gamblers vs. Panthers score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 F
Gamblers 3 14 0 0 17
Panthers 0 0 6 6 12

Houston Gamblers vs. Michigan Panthers live updates, highlights

(All times Eastern.)

Recap: This game was a tale of two halves, as the Gamblers dominated the first half before the Panthers came roaring back in the second. Shea Patterson keyed that comeback effort, completing 17 of 24 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 31 yards. However, Michigan had too many costly mistakes, including two missed 2-point conversions, a missed field goal and three turnovers, including a 95-yard. scoop and score. The Gamblers won thanks largely to their defense and linebacker Reggie Northrup, who score the game’s first touchdown. 

Final: Gamblers 17, Panthers 12

3:47 p.m. — Shea Patterson throws a beautiful-looking pass to La’Michael Pettway in the end-zone, but he can only get one foot down. There was a chop block on the play anyway, so the Gamblers will emerge as the winners, needing just to take a knee to earn the victory.

3:46 p.m. — Sack! Chris Odom hits Shea Patterson for a big loss. The clock runs down to nine second remaining on the ensuing play, and the Panthers now are facing a fourth-and-26 with the game on the line.

3:45 p.m. — Patterson bobbles a shotgun snap and has to cover it in the backfield. The Panthers take their final timeout with 46 seconds left. They are facing a second-and-17 from the 21-yard line, trailing by five.

3:44 p.m. — Patterson hits Joe Walker for a big gain. They’re down to the 14-yard line with 52 seconds left.

3:43 p.m. — Stevie Scott converts the first down. The Panthers need 37 yards to take the lead. 

3:40 p.m. — The Panthers are ripping off big chunks of yardage, as Patterson hit Devin Ross for a first down before Lance Lenoira gained seven on a jet sweep. The Panthers are over midfield but are facing a third-and-2 as the two-minute warning arrives.

3:37 p.m. — Michigan got the ball back on its own 10-yard line, but Shea Patterson got them 15 yards right away on a completion to Lance Lenoir.

3:34 p.m. —The Gamblers pick up one first down but they are stopped a couple of yards short on the ensuing series of downs. Houston will punt it, leading by five with less than five-and-a-half minutes left in the contest.

3:31 p.m. — Kenji Bahar is now in the game for the Gamblers at quarterback. Clayton Thorson threw an interception on his last pass attempt.

3:28 p.m. — Patterson completes a 19-yard pass to Lance Lenoir on third-and-20. They line up quickly to sneak it on fourth-and-1, but Patterson was unable to get it. The Gamblers will take over with 8:57 left in the fourth quarter.

3:25 p.m. — Shea Patterson lets the first snap go past him. He recovers the ball, but Michigan loses 10 yards on the play.

3:22 p.m. — Clayton Thorson’s first pass following the Panthers’ touchdown drive is an interception. Jameson Houston makes the diving play while will give Michigan a chance to put together a go-ahead drive in good field position.

Score: Gamblers 17, Panthers 12

3:17 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN. Stevie Scott hammers the ball into the end-zone to bring the Panthers within one score. He was originally ruled short but replay review shows that he was able to extend the ball beyond the goal line. Michigan goes for two but once again fails to convert on the play.

3:14 p.m. — The Panthers choose to go for it on fourth-and-6 from inside the 19-yard line. Patterson hits Lance Lenoir, who makes an amazing catch to keep the drive alive.

3:12 p.m. — Shea Patterson runs the read-option and brings the ball inside the 25-yard line. Cameron Scarlett takes it into the red zone on the ensuing carry.

3:09 p.m. — Shea Patterson hits Devin Ross for a big gain off play-action on first down. The Panthers are already in Houston territory, and Gamblers safety Andrew Soroh is down after the play.

3:07 p.m. — Thorson completes a pass to JoJo Ward on third-and-14, but they gain just nine yards. The Gamblers punt it back to the Panthers, who will start their drive at their own 33-yard line.

End of third quarter: Gamblers 17, Panthers 6

3:04 p.m. — Clayton Thorson keeps using the hard count to draw the defense offsides, but his linemen are jumping instead. The Gamblers will face third-and-long when the fourth quarter begins.

3:01 p.m. — Mike Perreira reveals that there should have been a face mask called on the last play of the Panthers’ drive before the kick. The USFL replay center can overturn personal fouls that are called on the field, but they cannot buzz in to call fouls that haven’t been called.

3:00 p.m. — The Panthers run a screen on third-and-11 but can’t quite get the first down. Michael Carrizosa attempts a 43-yard field goal instead, but it misses wide left. The Panthers still trail 17-6 with a couple of minutes left in the third quarter.

2:56 p.m. — Michigan looked poised to face a third-and-long, but Chris Odom was whistled for illegal use of hands to the face. The Panthers have crossed the 30-yard line and are threatening to score again.

2:53 p.m. — The Panthers overcome a drop by Devin Ross and complete a first-down pass to former Oklahoma and XFL player Jeff Badet. The Panthers are across midfield as they look to draw within one score.

2:48 p.m. — The Gamblers were whistled for a false start penalty and delay of game penalty on back-to-back plays. They manage to get nine of it back, but they are forced to punt. The Gamblers hit the returner early on the play, so Michigan will start near the 35-yard line.

2:46 p.m. — Michigan allows Houston to gain five yards on its first two plays of the second half. Can they get a key stop to get the ball back?

2:42 p.m. — Wondering how the Panthers snapped out of a game-long offensive funk to mount their first TD drive of the season? Jeff Fisher did a good job of motivating them in the halftime locker room.

Score: Gamblers 17, Panthers 6

2:39 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN. Shea Patterson finds Lenoir in the back left corner of the end-zone. Lenoir had plenty of space on his defender and was able to make the catch with ease. The Panthers go for two but can’t convert.

2:38 p.m. — Patterson completes a pass to Lance Lenoir while rolling to the right. They now have a first-and-goal from the 8-yard line.

2:36 p.m. — Patterson throws his first pass of the second half, and it’s a good one. He dodges a sack and throws a 9-yard completion to Cameron Scarlett. Patterson sneaks it for a first down on the next play, as Michigan starts the half off well.

2:34 p.m. — Stevie Scott gets off to a good start in the second half. He runs three times consecutively and helps get the ball to the Gamblers’ 45-yard line. Shea Patterson is back in at quarterback but hasn’t thrown a pass yet.

2:32 p.m. — And, we’re back. The Panthers will receive the ball to start the second half after their won the coin toss and deferred. They trail 17-0 and will need to score quickly to gain some confidence.

2:24 p.m. — One cool moment from the first half: Will Likely tossed the ball to his father in the stands after recording his first USFL interception. Likely went undrafted in 2017 and has been trying to make it as a pro for the last five years.

Halftime: Gamblers 17, Panthers 0

2:20 p.m. — Michigan elects to run the ball after the missed field goal. The Panthers run out the clock and take it into halftime trailing by 17.

2:18 p.m. — Nick Vogel’s field goal attempt is NO GOOD, as it bangs off the left upright. That keeps the lead at 17-0, which is, technically, a two-score lead given the USFL’s unique scoring rules.

2:17 p.m. — Michigan comes up with a big stop. Orion Stewart breaks up a potential touchdown pass on third-and-goal to force Houston to settle for a field-goal attempt.

2:15 p.m. — The Gamblers have a goal-to-go opportunity. They are likely going to run most of the first-half clock as they look to score once again.

2:10 p.m. — We’ve reached the two-minute warning. The Gamblers are up 17-0 and just crossed the Panthers’ 35-yard line. They should be positioned to take a three-possession lead into halftime if they can score again.

2:09 p.m. — The Panthers turn the ball over again. Paxton Lynch throws a pass to Lance Lenoir, but Will Likely was able to undercut the route easily. The Gamblers get the ball near midfield once again.

2:06 p.m. — The NBC broadcast just showed some mic’d up footage of Chase DeMoor getting into it with one of his teammates, who didn’t like DeMoor talking to him after a defensive series. It seems that the frustrations are growing on that side of the ball as the Panthers trail big.

Score: Gamblers 17, Panthers 0

2:03 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN. Clayton Thorson makes a perfect throw to Isaiah Zuber, as he fits it in over the head of two Michigan defenders and allows Zuber to tap his toes in with ease. The Gamblers fail on their two-point conversion but have built a formidable lead.

2:01 p.m. — Houston generates three first downs on the first four plays of its drive after the fumble. The last came after he was sacked by Jameson Houston, but the cornerback drove him into the ground and was flagged for roughing the passer.

1:55 p.m. — Yet another fumble for Michigan — their fifth of the day — and they lose this one. Paxton Lynch has it stripped out of his hands by Ahmad Gooden. The Gamblers pounce on it and get the ball just shy of midfield. That makes the penalty on the punt return all the more impactful.

1:50 p.m. — Joe Walker returns the punt for a touchdown, but Michigan is whistled for an illegal blindside block. It may not have made a difference in the play, but the Panthers will have their points taken off the board.

1:49 p.m. — T.J. Carter comes up with a big sack on Gamblers quarterback Clayton Thorson. He gets to Thorson at the 1-yard line to create a fourth-and-long. The Gamblers will have to punt from deep in their own end-zone.

1:47 p.m. — Michigan has fumbled once on each of its four drives today. They have recovered three, but the lone one they didn’t recover became a scoop-and-score.

1:44 p.m. — Lynch’s first pass hits Lance Lenoir square in the hands on a third down, but the receiver drops it. The Panthers have to punt again, pinning the Gamblers deep in their on territory.

1:42 p.m. — The Panthers seem to have figured something out with the running game. Stevie Scott is generating some yards at running back while Paxton Lynch scrambled for six yards on a first down.

1:40 p.m. — Michigan keeps the ball on the ground for its first three plays after the scoop-and-score and generates a first down. Paxton Lynch was set to check into the game for the first time but his communication device wasn’t working. The Panthers take their second timeout.

1:37 p.m. — Northrup’s touchdown is the first defensive score of the new USFL. It took just over five quarters for a defense to make a big-time, game-changing play.

Score: Gamblers 11, Panthers 0

1:35 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN. Not for the Panthers, but for the Gamblers. Shea Patterson fell down on the play and got back up and tried to scramble. He fumbled the ball for the second time of the day and it was scooped up by linebacker Reggie Northrup, who returned it for a touchdown. The Gamblers go for two and covert to take an 11-0 lead.

1:32 p.m. — The Panthers lost a member of their secondary early during Sunday’s game. Warren Saba suffered a fractured forearm and will not return to the game.

End of first quarter: Gamblers 3, Panthers 0

1:31 p.m. — Patterson is under pressure again on third-and-11 and escapes it. He scrambles for a first down and the Panthers have the first goal-to-go opportunity of the day. Michigan ran the ball for three yards after that to bring the first quarter to an end.

1:29 p.m. — The Panthers are facing a third-and-11 with less than a minute left in the first quarter. Jeff Fisher calls a timeout and tells his team that they are « in good shape. »

1:27 p.m. — Walker and Patterson are starting to get in a rhythm. Patterson uses his mobility to get outside of the pocket and hits Walker for a first-down gain. Walker did well to get both of his feet in bounds.

1:26 p.m. — Shea Patterson completes his second pass of the day, as he hits Joe Walker for a 15-yard gain that brings the ball to the Gamblers’ 33-yard line. That’s the Panthers’ first, first-down of the day.

1:24 p.m. — The Gamblers can’t get anything going on their third drive. Clayton Thorson was under pressure on third down and just missed hitting Tyler Palka for a gain. Michigan gets the ball again near midfield.

1:20 p.m. — The Panthers go three-and-out again. Patterson had an open man down the field, but linebacker Donald Payne knocked down the pass. Houston will get the ball back at their own 14-yard line.

1:18 p.m. — Michigan’s second drive starts the same way as their first with a fumble. Shea Patterson is sacked and he drops the ball. He recovers it, but the Panthers are behind the chains at second-and-15.

1:17 p.m. — Cameron Scarlett has a nice return for the Panthers after a deep kick by the Gamblers. He brings it out to about midfield. Shea Patterson retakes the field looking to tie the game.

Score: Gamblers 3, Panthers 0

1:15 p.m. — FIELD GOAL. The Gamblers score the first points of the day, as Nick Vogel is good on a 37-yard field goal. Houston has a 3-0 lead just over halfway through the first quarter.

1:13 p.m. — Clayton Thorson nearly had a touchdown pass, but Panthers corner Tino Ellis broke up the pass at the goal-line. He almost had another completion, but Anthony Ratliff-Williams slipped on his break. That creates a fourth-down for the Gamblers.

1:11 p.m. — Mark Thompson has another first-down run. He generates 16 yards on second down and has 35 yards on his first three carries. Houston is nearing the red zone as they look to score the first points of the game.

1:09 p.m. — On third-and-4, Clayton Thorson completes a pass to JoJo Ward. First down, Gamblers, as they approach scoring range.

1:06 p.m. — It’s a three-and-out for the Panthers. They ran the ball three times and gained a grand total of two yards. The Gamblers will get the ball back in great field position at the Michigan 46-yard line.

1:04 p.m. — The Panthers’ first play from scrimmage is a run by Cameron Scarlett up the middle. He fumbles it after a big hit from Reggie Northrup, and quarterback Shea Patterson recovers it for a six-yard loss.

1:01 p.m. — Houston can’t generate a second first-down on the drive. They stall out after a pop-pass sweep on third down and punt on fourth-and-6. The Panthers will get the ball for the first time at their own 11-yard line.

12:59 p.m. — Marc Thompson is off to a nice start. He takes the first two carries and generates a first down. The Gamblers are into Panthers territory at the 45-yard line.

12:57 p.m. — The Panthers kick-off to the Gamblers to start the game. Houston will start on offense at their own 37-yard line with Clayton Thorson at quarterback.

12:54 p.m. — The National Anthem has been performed and up next will be the coin toss. Kickoff of the USFL’s second day is imminent.

12:40 p.m. — There is still light rain falling in Birmingham, but it appears that the thunderstorms have subsided… for now. According to Weather.com, it should be cloudy for the next five hours in Birmingham, but there is a chance of thunderstorms again beginning at 6 p.m. ET. 

12:35 p.m. — The players have officially taken the field for warm-ups. The NBC broadcast says that the game should start in about 20 minutes, so we’re looking at a potential 12:55 p.m. ET start time.

12:29 p.m. — The NBC broadcast just announced that the players for each team would be taking the field « momentarily. » They will need about 15-20 minutes to warm up, and after that, the game should be just about ready to begin. When adding in the pre-game ceremonies (National Anthem, etc.) it looks like we’re heading for a start at just about 1 p.m. ET.

12:26 p.m. — The Gamblers and Panthers social media teams are having a good time during the rain delay. They challenged one another to an online game of Connect Four, which Houston ended up winning.

12:24 p.m. — Jac Collinsworth announces that the players are expected to take the field in 10 minutes or so. That should give the game a chance to start at or just before 1 p.m. ET.

12 p.m. ET — The USFL’s second day will take some time to get started. We’re currently in a weather delay, as there are thunderstorms in the Birmingham area.

Tampa Bay Bandits vs. Pittsburgh Maulers live updates, highlights

Updates on the Maulers vs. Bandits game will be provided when it begins at 9 p.m. ET.

What time are the USFL games today?

Below is the full schedule of USFL games for Sunday, April 17. The first game will kick off at noon ET while the last will begin at 9 p.m. ET.

All games will be available to watch on the Fox and NBC family of networks. You can also stream the contests with fuboTV, which offers a free trial.

Game Time (ET) TV channel
Houston Gamblers vs. Michigan Panthers Noon NBC, Peacock, fuboTV
Philadelphia Stars vs. New Orleans Breakers 5 p.m. USA, fuboTV
Tampa Bay Bandits vs. Pittsburgh Maulers 9 p.m. FS1, fuboTV



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