BIRMINGHAM — Ramiz Ahmed’s field goal make with 4:55 to go in the third frame was the Pittsburgh Maulers lone score in its season-opening, 17-3, loss to the Tampa Bay Bandits Monday night at Protective Stadium.

Unexpectedly, former San Jose State quarterback Josh Love made the start for Pittsburgh (0-1) instead of Kyle Lauletta, who the team grabbed with the seventh overall pick of February’s USFL Draft. The passers shared time behind center, completing 11 of 26 passes for 129 yards.

The Maulers crossed midfield once and had almost as many three-and-outs (3) as they had first downs (4) in the initial half. Meanwhile, Tampa (1-0) signal-caller Jordan Ta’amu, formerly of the XFL’s St. Louis BattleHawks, orchestrated three scoring drives, including one that was capped with a three-yard strike to Jordan Lasley, a fifth-round selection of the Baltimore Ravens’ in 2018.

Pittsburgh rang in the third quarter with yet another short series then posted its first points its next time out.

After Kyahva Tezino’s interception a little over a minute into the final period, Love marched the Maulers offense as far as the Bandits’ 11-yard line before the chance fizzled out.

Former Central Catholic Viking Tre Tarpley also picked a pass off in the defeat. Tailback Garrett Groshek rushed for a game-high 55 yards on 16 totes.

The teams combined for 13 punts.