Tag: USFL championship

WATCH: Former Wisconsin DL Olive Sagapolu makes game-winning play in OT

Former Wisconsin DL sealed the game with an impressive pass breakup:

The 2023 USFL Championship will be full of former Wisconsin Badgers after the Pittsburgh Maulers defeated the Michigan Panthers this weekend.

The Maulers possess six former Badgers: guard Jon Dietzen, fullback Mason Stokke, defensive end Izayah Green-May, running back Garrett Groshek and defensive lineman Olive Sagapolu. If you need a rooting interest in the title game next weekend, the Birmingham Stallions have zero.

The final two listed above had significant roles in the Maulers’ overtime win to send the team to the championship game. Groshek tallied over 70 scrimmage yards and scored a touchdown, while Sagapolu ended the game with a terrific pass breakup.

Sagapolu has tallied 22 tackles and four sacks this season. His pirouette, back-handed pass deflection to close out the North Division Championship is likely the highlight of his season.

Sagapolu and the other five former Wisconsin standouts will be in action July 1 at 7 p.m. Central in the 2023 USFL championship game.

WATCH: Former Wisconsin RB Garrett Groshek scores in the USFL Division Championship

Garrett Groshek found the end zone in the USFL Divisional Round

Former Wisconsin running back Garrett Groshek is still finding his way into a steady roster spot in the NFL.

The former Badger signed with the Raiders after going undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft, though he was waived by the team in late August. He then spent one week on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad later that year before being released.

The USFL presents a golden opportunity at second chances for those not to make NFL rosters out of college. Groshek got his chance, as the Pittsburgh Maulers selected him in the 27th round of the 2022 USFL Draft.

The former Badger running back is one of six Wisconsin products on the Maulers, alongside G Jon Dietzen, FB Mason Stokke, DE Izayah Green-May and DL Olive Sagapolu. The group is set to play in the 2023 USFL Championship Game after the Maulers defeated the Michigan Panthers in overtime in the North Division Championship.

Groshek was a big part of the win, totaling 32 rushing yards on 14 carries, 38 receiving yards on two receptions and one touchdown.

Groshek and his fellow Maulers teammates will look to capture the league’s title game next weekend before attempting again to make an NFL roster.

Several former Badgers to play in 2023 USFL Championship Game

Several Wisconsin products are making noise in the USFL

The city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has something going with Wisconsin football products.

The Steelers added two this offseason in the draft — DL Keeanu Benton and OLB Nick Herbig — to bring the team’s total to four Wisconsin products. Meanwhile, in the USFL the Pittsburgh Maulers have a roster with six former Badgers: G Jon Dietzen, RB Garrett Groshek, FB Mason Stokke, DE Izayah Green-May and DL Olive Sagapolu.

Those six players on the Maulers will have a shot at a USFL title, with the league’s championship game scheduled for July 1 at 7:00 p.m. central.

Pittsburgh recently defeated the Michigan Panthers 31-27 in the North Division Championship to reach the title game.

Notable performances from the contest include 32 rushing yards, 38 receiving yards and a touchdown from Groshek, a tackle from Sagapolu and a pass defended from Green-May.

Before the six aforementioned former Badgers will play for the title next weekend before they turn their sights back on finding spots on an NFL roster.

Auburn alum playing in USFL championship game

The game will be played in Canton, Ohio, at the site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The USFL’s first inaugural championship game is set to take place tonight (for this version of it, anyway) and Auburn fans have a team to root for if they’re looking to cheer on a former Tiger.

Former Auburn defensive lineman [autotag]Tony Fair[/autotag] is set to take the field tonight for the Philadelphia Stars in an effort to help bring his team some championship hardware. The Stars went 6-4 in 2022 and finished second in their division, but Fair and his squad have made it to the championship game after a playoff victory over the New Jersey Generals.

Fair hardly played for the Tigers in 2021. He came to the Plains as a transfer from UAB and played 12 games, but only managed one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss with just nine total tackles on the year. His Philadelphia Stars have been performing well with him on the line, however, and they’ll get a chance to make USFL history by being the first team in the league’s newest iteration to win the championship if they can defeat the Birmingham Stallions, who play in the state where both the teams he played for in college reside.

The game will start at 6:30 p.m. CT on Fox. It will be played at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio, where the Pro Football Hall of Fame is based out of.

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