Roy J. Akers- www.skyviewsports.net (Detroit, Mich.)
The Michigan Panthers are playing their finale of a three game homestand to start the 2024 UFL season and easily could be 0-2 instead of 1-1 as Jake Bates fantastic kick from 66-yards out saved the team from a winless start.
The Houston Roughnecks come into Ford Field winless and the Panthers need to extend the Gamblers misery if they are to make the playoffs in their first UFL season.
The Panther’s first and second order of business is to reengage their running game featuring Wes Hills and their offensive line, which gave up seven sacks to two-time defending champion Birmingham. The game saw Hills and the other running backs struggle, but the Michigan defense is another story.
Michigan only ran for 64 yards on 27 carries outside of EJ Perry. The Panthers defense bottled up Reid Sennett in the second half. Two turnovers, a blocked punt and multiple short drives helped get Michigan to 2-1.
First Quarter
The Panthers opened the game kicking off The Roughnecks kickoff return kick of 38 yards by Isiah Hennie set the road team up with a first and ten from their own 48. The Roughnecks marched down the field and scored the games first touchdown on a one yard run by Reid Sinnett for the TD.
| The TWO-POINT CONVERSION. Sinnett steps back to pass. Catch made by Emmanuel Butler at MICH 5. Gain of yards. TWO-POINT ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. [10:59] Houston 8- Michigan 0 Drive took 4:01 off the clock. The drive was for 52 yards in eight plays. |
| Sinnett rushed left tackle to MICH End Zone for a 1-yard TD. The key play on the drive is a Sinnett pass complete to the MICH 25. Catch made by Butler at MICH 25. Gain of 24 yards. Tackled by MICH at MICH 1. TWO-POINT ATTEMPT. Sinnett steps back to pass. Catch made by Emmanuel Butler at MICH 5. Gain of yards. TWO-POINT ATTEMPT . [10:59] Houston 8- Michigan 0 – Drive took 4:01 off the clock. The drive was for 52 yards in eight plays. |
On the Roughnecks next drive starting at their own 42, the Panthers make a pair of big defensive plays putting the Roughnecks on third and long on their initial series. After two false start penalties, put Houston at third and 22 .T.J. Pledger had a twelve-yard gain making it 4th and ten. and the Panthers got their first three and out defensively trailing by five.
The Michigan drive was spurred by a couple of Houston penalties. On third and long, EJ Perry was completed on a pitch and catch to Devin Gray for 25 yards. After one QTR. Houston 8- Michigan 3
Key Panthers Stat: EJ Perry completes 4-5 passes for 57 yards.
Second Quarter
Perry completes a six-yard pass to Trey Quinn to make it fourth and one. The Perry keeper extends the drive to the Houston 24. Perry completes a crossing route catch for ten yards to Marcus Simms, giving the Panthers a first down. Three plays later, Perry scrambles to the endzone for the Panther’s first TD. Michigan’stwo-pointt conversion attempt. Hills’s run from the five was short. Michigan 9- Houston 8.
Key Play. The Perry scramble for a TD
Houston used small chunk plays to gain a pair of first downs on their drive. On third down, Sinnett finds Dunbar for a gain to the Michigan 22. Turnover Alert.
Michigan Interception. Sinnett’s pass in the flat and Kai Nacua gets the Panther’s interception. It’s the teams second of the season. Michigan takes over at their own 22. Three plays later the Michigan drive stalls. After a Michigan punt, Houston takes over at their own 28.
The Panther’s defense comes up big after the punt. Noah Dawkins and Kenny Willekes stuff consecutive plays. Sinnett torches the defense for a first down catch to T.J. Pledger. A first down catch on the next play to Cyril Grayson gives Houston a first and ten at the M-ten. Sinnett holds the ball too long and Ron’Dell Carter sacks him for af ive-yard loss. Two short completions later J.J. Molson attempts a25-yardd field goal. Houston retakes the lead. Houston 11- Michigan 9.
E.J. Perry has his best throwing drive of the season. Six straight completions to the Houston 45.
Jake Bates attempts a 55-yard field goal. He makes the kick not once after being frozen, but twice. Michigan 12- Houston 11.
Halftime. Key Houston Stat: 5 Penalties for 28 Yards. Michigan: Ten running back carries for only 15 yards.
Third Quarter
Michigan takes the opening drive of the second half and EJ Perry’s throw to the flat is a dandy. Marcus Simms scampers for 66 yards for a long score. The 2 Pt. conversion throw to Siaosi Mariner is good and Michigan now leads by nine. Michigan 20- Houston 11. Key Play. Duh!
Houston takes the kickoff for a big run by Justin Hall to the Michigan 20. Michigan’s defense holds Houston to three yards. A 27-yard field goal by Molson makes it Michigan 20- Houston 14.
UFL In-Game
Michigan goes to work. A 26 -yard grab to Mariner from Perry gives Michigan the ball at the Houston 39. Perry scrambles twice for ten yards to the Houston 29. Later, Hills earns a first down on fourth and inches at the Houston ten. The Panthers had a third and nine at the ten and EJ Perry takes it to the house. His second rushing TD of the game. The counter off tackle run by Matthew Colburn II makes it
Michigan 28- Houston 14. Key play. Perry to Mariner for 26 yards. Michigan goes 74 yards in 11 plays.
After Michigan’s defense blows up another Houston drive, Michigan blocks a punt. Niswander punts yards to HOU 24 after Michigan recovers the blocked punt. Mathew Colburn scores two plays later and Michigan. The two-point conversion is no good. Michigan 34- Houston 14. Key play: Colburn scores from four yards out. Key Michigan State: QB EJ Perry is 16-18 passing with two rushing scores.
The quarter runs out and the score after three is Michigan 34- Houston 14.
4th Quarter
The Roughnecks gain one first down after receiving the kickoff and down by twenty points with 12:17 left and three scores. They elect to go for it on fourth and three at their own 41. A Sinnett pass for 33 yards to Butler to the Panthers 26 gives Houston hope with 10:16 left in the game. A Sinnett pass on third down extends another Roughnecks drive. With first and goal from the Michigan six, the Roughnecks misfired twice and Houston scores from one yard out. Sinnett to Justin Hall for the score. Two pt. Conversion is no good. Detroit 34- Houston 20. Key Play. Sinnett pass to Butler for 33 yards.
After the Panthers get the football following the Houston score, they go three and out and Houston takes over following a punt at their own 33. Houston on fourth and eight has a turnover of downs. The magic of Reid Sinnett does not apply to the second half. as he only totaled 53 yards in the air. Michigan barrels into the line for two straight plays and Perry scrambles for 13 giving Michigan new life and fresh plays to earn their second victory of the season. A Hills run gives Michigan another first down.
Panthers win 34-20
Three Panthers stars of the Game
1. QB- EJ Perry 16-19 208 yards. Three total touchdowns
2. SS- Kai Nacua- Safety Eight Total Tackles on the game. 1 Interception and two pass breakups.
3. ST- Kendrick Whitehead Jr. Special Teams play and blocked punt.
Post Game Notes: Attendance 6.952. The crowd has dipped twice after the Panthers drew just under 10,000 fans for their opener. A beautiful 75 degree day and the Tigers playing at home across the street.
Michigan plays its first round game of the season against the San Antonio Brahmas.
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