Jake Bates tells Roy J. Akers and the press about NFL teams contacting him– Is he staying or going? Watch the :28 Second Video Below. Panthers Highlights and stats as well.
Roy J. Akers- skyviewsports.net
Michigan plays host to their fourth of five home games in their inaugural UFL season at Ford Field and with three road games looming, their date against the winless Arlington Renegades is a MUST win.
Michigan has two potential home cupcake games… well they are cupcakes against both Arlington and the Memphis Showboats who are (1-5) and currently on a five game losing streak. The key for Michigan is building on Danny Etling’s performance last week taking over for EJ Perry.
Winner
Fast start Offense- The Michigan Panthers moved the ball well enough in the first half, that they took a 55-yard field goal off the board by Jake Bates. Three plays later, Bates kicks it from 43 yards out. When tyour team starts out with six first downs, 108 total yards and ten points, you are off to a fast start. The second quarter was a dud. More on that later.
Winner
Kicker Jake Bates makes three first-half field goals. The 55-yarder is taken off the scoreboard and Bates later makes a 43 yarder on the same drive. Bates struck again with no time left in the first half, easily making a 60 yard field goal. Bates later had a 45-yard field goal taken off the board after a roughing the kicker call. Once again, the Panthers drive stalled out 3 plays later and Bates makes the 29-yard field goal. Bates later makes a 49-yard field goal and a 42 Yard GW field goal, his fifth of the game.
Winner
Danny Etling started the game on fire for Michigan. He went 4-4 for 58 yards on the first drive of the game completing a long gainer to Marcus Simms. Etling and the Panthers could not consistently move the ball until there was 5:00 minutes left in the game. Etling scrambles 40 yards to the Renegades six. Hills scores two plays later and the Panthers take their first lead 25-24 since the first quarter.
Perez Drives the Panthers Nuts
The Arlington Renegades Luis Perez came into the game first in the UFL in total passing yardage and completing nearly 67% of his passes. The Renegades use a dink-and-dunk passing game to move the chains and it serves them well. Wideouts, J.P Payton and Tyler Vaughns have been lighting defenses up all season and are in the top ten in UFL receiving. After the Renegades stumbled on their first drive, they put together three drives cumulatively averaging nine plays. Michigan could not get their defense off the field and led to them taking a 17-13 halftime lead.
Where is the Panthers pass defense?
The flipside of Perez playing well in the first half shows up here. The Renegades Perez’ wore out the Michigan secondary in the first half. Six players had two or more grabs and Michigan appeared to be lost at times covering Arlington receivers.
First half receiving stats. >>>>>
Panthers Big Play Defense was NOT on the move until it mattered
Michigan struggled to stop Arlington as the game moved along. They had one sack (Ron’ Dell Carter) on the day. No interceptions, forced fumbles or tackles for loss (TFL). This allowed the Renegades to extend drives. Defensive penalties also hurt Michigan. As a team, they committed 8 for 63 yards.
Clutch final minute play
The Panthers’ Marcus Simms takes the kickoff return from his nine yard line 46 yards to the Renegades 46. Jake Bates kicks a 42 yard field goal on the final play of the game. His fifth.
Final Score: Michigan 28- Arlington 27
The final Panthers games look like this
Week 7
- AT D.C. DEFENDERS Sunday, May 12 | 12:00 PM ET | Washington D.C. | Audi Field | ESPN | ESPN Xtra on SiriusXM
WEEK 8
- VS MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS Saturday, May 18 | 4:00 PM ET | Detroit, MI | Ford Field | FOX | FOX Sports on SiriusXM
WEEK 9
- AT HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS Sunday, May 26 | 2:30 PM ET | Houston, TX | Rice Stadium | FOX | FOX Sports on SiriusXM
WEEK 10
- AT BIRMINGHAM STALLIONSSaturday, June 1 | 12:00 PM ET | Birmingham, AL | Protective Stadium | ESPN | ESPN Xtra on SiriusXM
