In a thrilling Week 3 clash at a rain-soaked Three Rivers Stadium, the Pittsburgh Maulers narrowly defeated the New Jersey Generals 35-31, extending their unbeaten streak to 3-0. The game was a showcase of high-stakes drama and explosive plays, with both teams trading scores throughout the contest. New Jersey struck first with Doug Flutie connecting on a 17-yard touchdown pass to Williams, capping off an 11-play, 68-yard drive. However, Pittsburgh responded quickly, as Brian Sipe found Greg Anderson for a 34-yard touchdown, evening the score at 7-7. The first half ended in a flurry, highlighted by a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown by Kerry Justin of the Generals, only to see Sipe and Anderson connect twice more, the latter a stunning 48-yard bomb, sending the teams into halftime tied at 21-21.
The second half saw defenses tighten, with neither team scoring in the third quarter. Pittsburgh eventually broke the stalemate early in the fourth quarter on a methodical 13-play, 87-yard drive, culminating in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Sipe to Kirk Pendleton, putting the Maulers up 28-21. New Jersey refused to go quietly, responding with a 10-play, 80-yard drive finished by Flutie’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Barry Hanna, leveling the score once more. The Generals then took a late 31-28 lead on a 27-yard field goal by Roger Ruzek with just 1:39 left on the clock.
However, Pittsburgh had the final say in this see-saw battle. Sipe, showcasing his veteran poise, led the Maulers on a swift two-play, 83-yard drive, capped by a 73-yard touchdown strike to the unstoppable Greg Anderson, who finished the day with 261 receiving yards and four touchdowns. The Generals’ final drive faltered, turning the ball over on downs, allowing Pittsburgh to run out the clock and secure the hard-fought victory. Despite the loss, New Jersey showed resilience, falling to 2-1, while Pittsburgh remains undefeated in what promises to be a competitive USFL season.
