USFL Roundup : Stallions Shut Down Bandits, 30-3

The Birmingham Stallions are struggling financially, but on the field they look like a million bucks.

Cliff Stoudt passed for two touchdowns and Joe Cribbs ran for two more and the Stallions shut down the United States Football League’s top offense Sunday in a 30-3 rout of the Tampa Bay Bandits before 28,900 at Birmingham, Ala.

“As long as we keep our end of the bargain on the field, somebody will come along and help out on our financial problems,” Stoudt said after completing 15 of 25 pass attempts for 163 yards.

Birmingham (7-2) is seeking refinancing to finish the season after losing its major investor.

“We’re the No. 1 team in the league and I don’t see how the No. 1 team would fold,” said Cribbs, who rushed for 117 yards on 27 carries.

Stoudt hit Cribbs on a two-yard scoring toss in the first quarter and Jim Smith on a 15-yarder in the second quarter. Cribbs ran 19 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the final quarter. Danny Miller added three field goals.

Tampa Bay, averaging 404 yards a game, was held to 213 yards and the Stallions forced quarterback John Reaves into five interceptions. The Bandits managed only three first downs in the second half.

Houston 33, Arizona 17--Jim Kelly threw two second-half touchdown passes to Scott McGhee to break a 17-17 tie and the Gamblers beat the Outlaws at Tempe, Ariz.

The Outlaws (4-5) tied it, 17-17, on a 34-yard field goal by Luis Zendejas with 8:56 left in the third quarter. On the next series, Kelly capped an 80-yard drive with a 10-yard scoring pass to McGhee.

Kelly went back to McGhee for a three-yard scoring pass with 9:48 left. The Gamblers (6-3) added Tony Fritsch’s 24-yard field goal with 1:46 left.

Doug Williams scored on a one-yard run and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Long as the Outlaws took a 14-10 halftime lead, but Houston’s Clarence Verdin ran the second-half kickoff back 95 yards for a touchdown.

Baltimore 26, Portland 17--Kelvin Bryant came back from a knee injury that kept him out for more than three games and rushed 25 times for 185 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Stars past the Breakers before 14,832 at College Park, Md.

The Stars (4-4-1) built a 17-0 lead on Antonio Gibson’s 50-yard pass-interception return, Bryant’s long run and a 42-yard field goal by David Trout just 1:44 into the second quarter.

Portland (3-6) struck back on the next series when Matt Robinson hooked up with Frank Lockett on an 85-yard touchdown play. Trout’s 22-yard field goal made it 20-7 at halftime.