USFL Playoffs: Breakers vs. Stallions top plays

The USFL‘s inaugural postseason continued Saturday with the South’s top-seeded Birmingham Stallions taking on the No. 2 seed New Orleans Breakers in the second semifinal game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

Earlier Saturday, the North’s top-seeded New Jersey Generals fell to the No. 2 seed Philadelphia Stars, 19-14.

The winner will join the Stars in the USFL Championship Game on Sunday, July 3 (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX). Tickets for the championship game are on sale at United States Football League (USFL) (hofvillage.com).

Here are the top plays from Saturday’s second game.

New Orleans Breakers vs. Birmingham Stallions

Off to a hot start

On its first drive of the game, New Orleans marched 58 yards on nine plays, ending with a 1-yard touchdown run by Jordan Ellis. 

Now it’s heating up

On the ensuing drive, Birmingham reached the end zone thanks to a 13-play, 72-yard drive orchestrated by J’Mar Smith. It ended with a 23-yard touchdown to Osirus Mitchell.

Birmingham has all the momentum

As New Orleans was in the midst of another impressive drive, quarterback Kyle Sloter, got hit on a pass attempt and was intercepted by DeMarquis Gates, who took it 70 yards for another Birmingham touchdown. 

Birmingham led 14-7 with 10:52 left in the second quarter. 

They gambled, and they hit the jackpot.

Taking a big chance before halftime, New Orleans went for it on fourth-and-4 from the Birmingham 35-yard line and Ellis did the rest of the work, taking it to the house and tying the score at 14-all before halftime. 

Not so fast

But Birmingham wanted the last laugh before the break. On the ensuing kickoff, Victor Bolden Jr. went 90 yards in 13 seconds to put the Stallions back n the lead, 21-14 with 53 seconds before halftime. 

New Orleans attempted to squeak in one last score in the remaining 53 seconds of the half, but Sloter threw an interception. With 23 seconds remaining, Birmingham couldn’t generate another score and went into halftime leading 21-14.

Stay tuned for more updates.