In a thrilling Monday night showdown at Three Rivers Stadium, the Pittsburgh Maulers outlasted the Michigan Panthers with a 27-20 victory to kick off their 1985 USFL season. The Maulers established an early lead, with kicker Steve Jordan nailing three field goals in the first half to put Pittsburgh ahead 9-0. However, the Panthers responded with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Bobby Hebert to Anthony Carter, cutting the lead to 9-7. Just before halftime, Brian Sipe’s 10-yard touchdown run extended the Maulers’ advantage to 16-7.
The Panthers fought back in the third quarter, as Hebert connected with Cobb on a 21-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the gap to 16-14. Despite a field goal from Jordan early in the fourth quarter, Michigan’s Miller found the end zone on a 4-yard run, giving the Panthers a brief 20-19 lead. The Maulers’ determination shone through in the final minutes, as Mike Rozier powered into the end zone on a 1-yard run and added a two-point conversion to seal the victory for Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh’s offense dominated the game, amassing 498 total yards compared to Michigan’s 252. Brian Sipe had an impressive night, completing 27 of 38 passes for 342 yards, while Rozier carried the load on the ground with 31 rushes for 103 yards and a touchdown. The Maulers’ defense also stood strong, with key contributions from Earnest Adams and Greg Walls. Despite the Panthers’ efforts, including Hebert’s two touchdown passes, Pittsburgh’s balanced attack and resilient defense ultimately secured the win in a hard-fought contest.
