USFL Roundup : Stallions Corral Walker and Top Generals, 14-6

The Birmingham Stallions, playing inspired defense, rallied to defeat the New Jersey Generals, 14-6, Sunday in front of 44,098 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

The victory enabled the Stallions (13-5) to claim the United States Football League’s Eastern Conference title. The Generals finished the regular season at 11-7.

Both teams qualified for the playoffs, which begin next weekend. Their opponents will be determined by the outcome of tonight’s Oakland-Houston game.

The Birmingham victory broke the Generals’ 13-game winning streak at home and the Stallions’ defense broke Herschel Walker’s 11-game streak of gaining at least 100 yards. He was limited to 73 yards on 25 carries. Walker still won the league rushing title with 2,411 yards.

Birmingham, trailing 6-0 at halftime, scored on its first possession of the second half, driving 68 yards in nine plays. The touchdown came on a three-yard pass from Cliff Stoudt to Jim Smith. It was Smith’s 20th touchdown reception of the season.

Just 1:53 later, defensive back Ted Walton intercepted a pass by Ron Reeves and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-6. It was Walton’s first interception of the season.

New Jersey threatened twice in the final quarter, but Reeves fumbled at the Birmingham 16 to kill one drive and tight end Sam Bowers dropped a tipped pass in the end zone in the closing minute to spoil another.

Roger Ruzek booted two first-half field goals to give New Jersey its 6-0 lead.

Stoudt completed 17 of 27 passes for 97 yards, while Joe Cribbs led Birmingham rushers with 79 yards on 21 carries.

Baltimore 38, Tampa Bay 10--The Stars, the defending league champions, served notice that they are ready for the playoffs by routing the Bandits in front of a crowd of 12,647 at College Park, Md.

The Stars (10-7-1) built a 24-0 lead in the second quarter, scoring first on David Trout’s 40-yard field goal. Minutes later, Mike Johnson returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown.

Tampa (10-8), also headed for the playoffs, turned the ball over on its first four possessions.

Late in the first half, after two more Baltimore scores--a four-yard run by Allen Harvin and a 66-yard scamper by Kelvin Bryant--the Bandits finally got on the board when Jimmy Jordan hit Steve Carter with a 16-yard touchdown pass.

Baltimore linebacker Sam Mills recovered one fumble, forced another, intercepted a John Reaves pass and recorded a sack.

Jacksonville 42, Denver 6--Mike Rozier scored four touchdowns and Ed Luther passed for 370 yards to lead the Bulls over the playoff-bound Denver Gold at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.

The attendence was 32,428, giving Jacksonville a nine-game total of 398,924, second best in the league. Tops is the Tampa Bay Bandits’ 406,984.

Jacksonville (9-9) failed to make the playoffs, while Denver (11-7) is in.

Rozier had touchdown runs of 1, 34, and 8 yards, and caught a 9-yard scoring pass from Luther. Rozier also rushed for 98 yards to finish the season with 1,361, second in the league. The Gold’s Bill Johnson, the league’s third-leading rusher, was held to 30 yards Sunday.

Luther, at quarterback since Brian Sipe was injured three games ago, completed 18 of 23 passes, including a 29-yard touchdown strike to Alton Alexis, who finished the day with 164 yards on six catches.

Gold quarterback Bob Gagliano suffered a mild concussion in the second quarter and was replaced by Vince Evans, who completed 11 of 22 passes for 263 yards.

San Antonio 21, Portland 13--Running back Don Roberts caught a touchdown pass and ran for another score as the Gunslingers beat the Breakers at San Antonio.

The victory, their second in the last 10 games, allowed the Gunslingers (5-13) to end the season at 5-13. Portland finished 6-12.

The Breakers were hampered by the loss of starting quarterback Matt Robinson, who sustained a bruised right rib midway through the third quarter and was forced to leave the game.

A crowd of 19,603 looked on, the franchise’s second largest paid attendance this season.