Memphis 6 at Birmingham 54

1984 Week 4 - Saturday, March 17, 1984
Memphis Showboats(1-2) at Birmingham Stallions(2-1)(-9.5)
Attendance: 41,500, TV: ESPN

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (UPI) - Cliff Stoudt, who passed for 273 yards, threw three touchdown passes and rushed for two more Saturday night to spark the Birmingham Stallions to a record 54-6 U.S. Football League rout of the Memphis Showboats.

The Stallions scored on every first-half possession en route to surpassing Jacksonville's previous USFL record of 53 points against Washington earlier this year. The win, before an estimated 41,500, improved Birmingham's record to 3-1. The Showboats fell to 1-3.

Stoudt, who was booed in a season-opening loss to New Jersey, hit on 21 of 29 passes and accounted for two scores in each half before exiting late in the third quarter.

Memphis was down 47-0 midway through the final period when quarterback Ken Johnson came on in relief of former Alabama standout Walter Lewis and hit Derrick Crawford with a two-yard scoring pass.

Birmingham needed only four plays to get the rout started. Stoudt threw 38 yards to rookie receiver Joey Jones, who made a tumbling touchdown catch to make it 7-0 with the game less than five minutes old.

Leon Perry powered under the left side of the Stallions' line from one yard out to cap a 68-yard drive on Birmingham's next possession to make it 14-0.

The Showboats were forced to punt three plays later, and Birmingham defensive back Ricky Ray blasted in to block the kick, which rolled through the end zone for a safety.

Archived news report
Archived boxscore

Supplemental information courtesy of Chris Blackburn

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