Bandits trounce Maulers behind Jordan Ta'amu, BJ Emmons

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

The Tampa Bay Bandits wrapped up the first week of the United States Football League season with a rout of the Pittsburgh Maulers on Monday night 17-3.

Tampa Bay scored on their first possession of the game. Running back B.J. Emmons ran the ball into the end zone for a 3-yard score to cap off an 8-play, 68-yard drive.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Jordan Ta'amu #10 of Tampa Bay Bandits passes the ball in the second quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Maulers at Protective Stadium on April 18, 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Carmen Mandato/USFL/Getty Images)

The Bandits would score again on a Jordan Ta’amu 3-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Lasley. The Bandits were up 17-0 on that point and would only allow the Maulers to score three points the rest of the way.

Ta’amu was 20-for-32 with 185 passing yards, a touchdown pass and two interceptions. Tight end Cheyenne O’Grady led Tampa Bay with eight catches for 86 yards. Lasley finished with three catches for 21 yards.

Emmons had 40 yards on the ground on 19 carries.

USFL WEEK 1 RECAP: SCORES, STANDINGS AND MORE

Zac Dawe #95 of Tampa Bay Bandits at Protective Stadium sacks Josh Love #12 of Pittsburgh Maulers in the third quarter of the game on April 18, 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Carmen Mandato/USFL/Getty Images)

Pittsburgh would have nine offensive plays that went for negative yards on offense and that would underscore their offensive struggles the entire night.

Josh Love and Kyle Lauletta split quarterback duties but neither could get any offense going. Love finished 9-for-16 with 121 passing yards. Lauletta was 2-for-10 with eight passing yards.

Garrett Groshek led