Stars vs. Generals final score, results: Stars advance to USFL title game thanks to Maurice Alexander's late heroics

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Kevin Skiver
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• 15 min read

In a stunning upset, the Stars handed the Generals their first loss since Week 1 of the USFL season Saturday, 19-14 in the first of two playoff semifinal games.

The game featured two punt return touchdowns — one by the Generals' KaVontae Turpin to give New Jersey its first lead of the game, and one by the Stars' Maurice Alexander, an 87-yarder with 1:41 remaining that put Philadelphia ahead for good.

Philadelphia was riddled with injuries. They lost Matt Colburn, their star during the second half of the regular season, and USFL interception leader Channing Stribling. Quarterback Case Cookus was hurt when he took a hit to his back in the first half but was able to return, although not at full strength.

Darius Victor (16 rushes, 64 yards) scored the Generals' lone offensive touchdown with a 1-yard run in the third quarter, but New Jersey mostly struggled in the red zone. Luis Perez threw an interception deep in Stars territory, and the Generals failed to convert on a fourth-and-inches dive up the middle from the Stars' 7. That ultimately proved to be the difference.

MORE: Watch USFL playoff games live with fuboTV (free trial)

This was the Stars' first win against a team over .500 this season. They lost to the Generals twice in the regular season, in Week 3 and Week 10.

Their improbable playoff run will continue in the USFL championship game July 3 against the South Division champion Stallions.

MORE: Sloter, Scarbrough among USFL players who could make NFL rosters in 2022

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from the playoff matchup between the top two teams in the USFL's North Division.

Stars vs. Generals score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Stars 3 7 0 9 19
Generals 0 0 3 11 14

Stars vs. Generals live score, updates from USFL playoffs

All times Eastern. 

6:09 p.m.: Perez gets POPPED and throws a jackpot ball in the air that gets picked off by Amani Dennis! The Stars force their second turnover of the day and they'll kill the clock to end the Generals' nine-game winning streak, get their first win against a team over .500 this season, and advance to the USFL Championship. A gutty effort.

6:05 p.m.: Alonzo Moore makes a really nice catch along the sidelines, but he stepped out of bounds before getting back into the field of play. Pass interference and illegal touching erase the 30-yard reception, as penalties continue to mount up during the two-minute drill. As this is going on, however, the clock continues to tick. It's now 41 seconds from the same place the Generals started.

6:04 p.m.: The personal foul gets overturned, and the Generals get the ball at their own 39.

6:02 p.m.: Ahmad Dixon and Darius Victor are both injured on the field after a helmet-to-helmet collision. Dixon walks off the field after being penalized for 15 yards. The Generals have 1:36 to score with two timeouts on the other side of the break.

5:57 p.m.: Never mind! The pressure flips RIGHT back to Perez and the Generals, as Maurice Alexander takes the punt back 88 yards for a touchdown. The Stars retake the lead without the offense taking the field, and the Generals will have to answer. Philadelphia goes for two and doesn't convert, making it 19-14 Stars.

5:54 p.m.: The Stars defense comes up big once again! On the other side of the two-minute warning, the Generals will punt. It will be Cookus with no timeouts down one. This one is coming down to the wire.

5:49 p.m.: The Generals are looking hyper-conservative with five minutes left in the fourth. They pick up a key first down from Darius Victor to continue to bleed the clock. Stars with just one timeout remaining.

5:45 p.m.: The opportunity for the Stars fizzles, as they're forced to settle for a field goal again. Aguilar converts, making it 14-13 Generals. That miss earlier in the game is now looming much larger for Philadelphia.

5:41 p.m.: Turpin singlehandedly kicked this game into high gear. Lots of urgency from the Stars on this drive, and they're inside the Generals 20 again. It's on the red zone offense once again here, as they try to steal back the lead.

5:38 p.m.: Maurice Alexander answers with a nice return of his own to the Stars' 45-yard line. Big chance here for Cookus to try to make something happen.

5:31 p.m.: After a Stars three-and-out, KaVontae Turpin takes matters into his own hands with a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown! Turpin initially declared the ball poison, but he scooped it up and found a gap to give the Generals their first lead of the game. 14-10 Generals with 10 and a half minutes left to play..

5:26 p.m.: The New Jersey offense has been utterly stagnant this half. Despite not getting a ton of help from their offense since the earliest parts of the game, the defense is really holding its own.

5:24 p.m.: The physicality of this game has finally boiled over a bit, as the Generals get penalized with a personal foul for extracurriculars on the sideline. Gabe Sewell also laid a big hit on Turpin within the confines of the play.

5:19 p.m.: Brutal miss there for Aguilar, and the Generals get the ball back inside their own 20 down three. Both defenses continue to stand firm deep in their own territory.

5:15 p.m.: The Stars fail to convert on a third-and-goal as the third quarter ends. They'll open the fourth fourth-and-goal with a decision to make on how aggressive they want to be in a one-possession game.

5:13 p.m.: It's Cookus! The Generals blow a coverage in the secondary and Diondre Overton ends up wide open. Cookus puts a perfect ball on him to get the Stars deep in New Jersey territory.

5:08 p.m.: Good recovery from the Stars defense, as they force a fourth down and a New Jersey punt in short order. The Stars will get the ball back just in their own territory, unknown on whether it will be Cookus or Costello.

5:05 p.m.: Yet another turnover in this one, as Paris Ford lays out Darnell Holland to force a fumble in the red zone. A good, promising drive for the Stars comes to a screeching halt, and the Generals get the ball back down three with five minutes in the half.

5:03 p.m.: On the injury front, Cookus can return if his back will hold up. Stribling and Matt Colburn II will be out of the game.

5:01 p.m.: On third-and-8, Costello puts a good throw on Chris Rowland who makes a really impressive adjustment to convert. A lot of confidence being placed on Costello in his first series by Philadelphia.

4:55 p.m.: The Stars will start the next possession at their own 14-yard line with K.J. Costello at the helm, as Cookus continues to be evaluated.

4:50 p.m.: On fourth-and-goal, the Generals decide to go for it once again inside the 1-yard line. Victor plows ahead to finally put the Generals on the board, but it doesn't get much closer than that. Pereira confirms from the booth there's no way to change the call on the field from the replay booth.

4:45 p.m.: New Jersey FINALLY looks to be breaking out. Great move by Darrius Shepherd on the outside to get downfield. He catches a perfect pass from Perez to get to the Philadelphia 5-yard line.

4:44 p.m.: When it rains it pours. On the very next play the Stars give up a big gain on an end-around and Stribling gets injured. The Stars injury tent is looking awful crowded.

4:42 p.m.: Giant momentum shift here as the Generals bring heat up the middle and Cookus tosses one up for grabs. Mike Bell Jr. gets a big pick for New Jersey as Cookus goes to the medical tent. Really bad sequence for the Stars.

4:37 p.m.: The Stars immediately pull out some trickery, as Maurice Alexander gets the end around and zips a pass in for a seven-yard game. Nifty start to the half for Philadelphia.

4:34 p.m.: The second half is underway, and the Generals' struggles continue and compile. Cam Echols-Luper fumbles the opening kick of the half and it's recovered by the Stars. The Generals don't think it was a fumble, but Pereira is stepping in to say the play has already been reviewed. A confusing situation, but the Stars will get possession.

4:22 p.m.: The Stars complete the first-half shutout, the first time this season the Generals have been shut out in the first half. The Generals will get the ball after the half. Stars 10, Generals 0

4:17 p.m.: HUGE play by the Stars on fourth-and-inches. The Generals try to dive with Victor up the middle, but he gets piled up to give the Stars the ball back with a minute and a half. The shutout is still intact.

4:14 p.m.: We hit the 2-minute warning with the Stars still up 10-0, but the Generals are banging on the door in the red zone.

4:11 p.m.: The Stars convert out of the timeout on fourth down on a sit route to Braedon Bowman. The drive stays alive as we approach halftime in Canton.

4:08 p.m.: On fourth-and-5, the Generals keep their offense on the field, prompting a Stars timeout. It doesn't appear to be a bluff, but we'll see what they do out of the break.

4:04 p.m.: The Generals are driving, but there still seem to be communication issues in place. New Jersey is forced to burn another timeout as they struggle to get up to the line.

4 p.m.: KaVontae Turpin makes a big third-down catch to keep a drive alive. The two-quarterback system seems to working against the Generals, with Philadelphia keying in on the zone reaad any time DeAndre Johnson comes in. May be an adjustment in order for New Jersey.

3:54 p.m.: The Stars immediately turn it into points and the Generals are taking issue with something in the end zone. Cookus scrambles into the end zone to make it 9-0 Stars. Aguilar converts the extra point to make it 10-0 Stars just over five minutes into the second.

3:50 p.m.: Huge break for the Stars, as they pick off Perez inside the five. After a huge return, the Stars are called for roughing the passer. After review, however, Mike Pereira and Los Angeles overturn the call and pick up the flag. According to Pereira, Ralph Holley didn't life and draft Perez to the ground. Philadelphia will get the ball in New Jersey territory.

3:46 p.m.: Another really nice run on a counter by Victor and the Generals to get into Stars territory. He looks extremely tough to bring down today. 

3:44 p.m.: The Generals seem to want to lean on Darius Victor. He picks up eight after the Generals are saddled with first-and-15. They follow up with another first down.

3:40 p.m.: The Generals end the first quarter getting their offense going, as they pick up a first down on third-and-short. They'll start the second with the ball driving. Stars 3, General 0

3:33 p.m.: The Generals defense finally recuperates on 3rd-and-8, as Case Cookus gets tripped up Hercules Mata'afa before he can turn the corner. The Stars will be forced to punt, and the Generals get the ball deep in their own territory.

3:30 p.m.: Cookus looks outstanding in the pocket. After completing a 13-yard duck, he scrambles for a big gain on first down to put the Stars back in Generals territory.

3:26 p.m.: Generals are forced to punt on their opening series after Turpin slips on a jet sweep and they fail to convert on third-and-long. Stars get the ball back on a punt and will try to extend their early lead.

3:23 p.m.: Philadelphia opens its defensive series with an 11-yard sack on Luis Perez off play action. Brutal start for the Generals offense as they're forced to take a timeout with the play clock winding down. 2nd-and-21 incoming.

3:20 p.m.: The Stars are forced to settle for a field goal after Cookus overthrows a receiver in the end zone. Luis Aguilar converts a 39-yard field goal to put Philadelphia on the board. 3-0 Stars.

3:17 p.m.: Great job by Cookus and the Stars to overcome second-and-long after a sack. Great patience culminates in an 11-yard scramble to put Philadelphia in striking distance.

3:13 p.m.: The Stars are off to a good start. They pick up a quick first down and a neutral zone infraction already has them in Generals territory.

3:11 p.m.: This game is underway! The Stars take the kickoff and will start from their own 37-yard line.

3:10 p.m.: Philadelphia has won the coin toss and will receive, meaning Case Cookus and the Stars will take the field first.

2:55 p.m.: Welcome to the USFL playoffs! The Philadelphia Stars and New Jersey Generals kick off at 3 p.m. ET, as they vie for a spot in the USFL Championship game. Updates will begin upon kickoff.

What channel is Stars vs. Generals on today?

  • TV channel: Fox
  • Live stream: Fox Sports Go | fuboTV

The first USFL playoff game of the league's semifinal Saturday will be broadcast on NBC. Curt Menefee will be the play-by-play announcer for the game while Joel Klatt will provide color.

Brock Huard will serve as the sideline reporter.

Cord cutters will be able to watch Saturday's game with fuboTV, which will provide access to all three of the USFL's playoff games in 2022 and comes with a free trial.

Stars vs. Generals start time

  • Date: Saturday, June 25
  • Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET. 

The Stars vs. Generals game will begin at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 25. The contest will take place at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, which is located at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. 

USFL playoff schedule 2022

USFL semifinals

Saturday, June 25

Matchup Start time TV channel Live stream
Stars vs. Generals 3 p.m. ET Fox fuboTV
Breakers vs. Stallions 8 p.m. ET NBC Peacock, fuboTV

USFL championship game

Sunday, July 3

Matchup Start time TV channel Live stream
TBD 7:30 p.m. ET Fox fuboTV
Author(s)
Kevin Skiver Photo
Kevin Skiver

Kevin Skiver is a content producer at The Sporting News