Dunigan’s Dazzling Debut Leads Breakers to Rout Over Maulers

On a crisp February afternoon at Three Rivers Stadium, new Boston Breakers quarterback Matt Dunigan made an immediate impact in his USFL debut, throwing for 328 yards and five touchdowns in a dominant 45-20 victory over the Pittsburgh Maulers. The former CFL star was nearly flawless, completing 17 of 21 passes—including four second-quarter touchdowns—as Boston erupted for 28 points in a 12-minute span to turn a 6-3 deficit into a 31-6 halftime lead. Dunigan connected with four different receivers for scores, highlighted by a 37-yard strike to Frank Lockett and a perfectly placed 26-yard bullet to Buford Jordan on back-to-back drives. The Breakers’ offense was unstoppable, averaging 9.3 yards per play and converting all five red zone trips into touchdowns.

Pittsburgh, starting rookie Jim Karsatos at quarterback after Brian Sipe’s retirement, showed flashes but couldn’t keep pace. Running back Mike Rozier punched in two short touchdowns (10 and 1 yards), while Karsatos found Kirk Pendleton for a 25-yard score in the third quarter. However, the Maulers’ offense sputtered against Boston’s aggressive defense, managing just 2.6 yards per carry and committing two costly fumbles. Pittsburgh’s struggles were compounded by 16 missed tackles and three dropped passes, including a potential touchdown by Greg Anderson in the second quarter that could have shifted momentum.

Key Takeaways

• Dunigan’s Mastery: The Breakers’ new QB posted a perfect 158.3 passer rating, with all five TD passes coming on throws of 11+ yards.
• Ground Support: Buford Jordan (78 yards) and Dwight Beverly (55 yards, 1 TD) kept Pittsburgh’s defense honest, combining for 133 rushing yards.
• Defensive Stand: Boston’s front seven sacked Karsatos once and generated 10 QB hurries, while Marcus Marek (7 tackles, 1 sack) anchored a unit that allowed just 2.9 yards per play in the first half.
• Injury Watch: Pittsburgh lost FB Jim Brown pregame, while Boston emerged unscathed ahead of a Week 2 showdown with New Jersey.

With Dunigan’s arrival paying immediate dividends, the Breakers look like legitimate contenders in the Atlantic Division. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh must regroup quickly after a disheartening opener that exposed defensive vulnerabilities and offensive growing pains under their new QB.