By Roy J. Akers (Detroit, Michigan)
The Michigan Panthers know that they cannot count on big kicks from 64-yards out every week? Last week’s game had us all on the edge of our seats with Jake Bates nailing that wild 64-yarder to clinch the win over the St. Louis Battlehawks. Panthers QB E.J. Perry’s struggled last week with two pics and only 164 yards passing on a 12-24 performance. This week, Perry squares off against Birmingham – the two-time USFL champs and against two of the best UFL corner backs.
First Quarter
Both teams started the game going three and out. Michigan’s offensive struggles continue on their first two offensive possessions. The Stallions broke the ice offensive early when they got a 19-yard run from CJ Marable. Birmingham’s on the board first on a Chris Blewitt kick. Birmingham 3- Michigan 0.
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Michigan went on the prowl for the first time in the game, nailing a couple of first downs in a row – including a pitch and catch from Perry and some nice hands to Marcus Simms. After the first quarter, Birmingham 3 – Michigan 0.
Second quarter
Things get dicey for Michigan. Perry tries to connect on a third down, and, it’s picked off. Birmingham takes over and shakes things up with Adrian Martinez, who lights a bit of a fire under the Stallions. A solid run and they’re knocking on the door. The Panthers’ stiffened and hold the Stallions to a field goal. Birmingham 6-0.
Michigan has had the turnover bug in their first two games. Perry has three interceptions and a fumble out of the backfield. The Stallions jump on the chance, but the Panthers’ D digs in their claws again, leaving Birmingham with a third field goal. Looks like Martinez’s passing game has yet to find the end zone. The score’s now 9-0, with the Stallions up by two scores.
Michigan big play alert.
Michigan finally connects on a big play. Perry to Marcus Simms for 76-yards and the home team goes for one from the two and a Perry pass to Cole Hikutini makes it a two-point game. Score: Birmingham 9 – Michigan 7. The Drive is two plays and takes 1:19 off the clock.
Neither team moved the football on their next drives. Birmingham called two timeouts after Panther plays and they took over the football with 1:43 to go in the half. Starting at the Panthers 43-yard-line, a third down pass from Matt Corral and a roughing the passer penalty game the road team serious field position at the Michigan 13. Corral scampers on the next play for 12 yards to the one-yard line. Two plays later, RB Ricky Person Jr. goes over the top for a red and white touchdown. The two-point conversion from Corral to Kevin Austin Jr. extends the Stallion lead to ten points. Score:” Birmingham 17- Michigan 7. Drive takes 1:17
Michigan had a few yards on the final drive of the half, and it got them into field goal range for Jake Bates. His field goal attempt from 62 yards is good. Halftime score: Birmingham 17, Michigan 10.
No truth to the rumor that NFL teams were dropping their ink pens to sign Bates on the way to the locker room. Key Play of the 2nd Quarter- is the Perry to Simms 76-yard TD pass.
3rd Quarter
Kicking off, the Panthers were on defense to start the second half. Birmingham’s Martinez scrambled for 15-yards and a visitor first down. After Michigan’s first score in the first half, Birmingham scored their only first half touchdown. Martinez connects with Deon Cain for a nifty sideline route to the Michigan 30. With the Stallions working the ball inside the Michigan two, the defense stiffens, and it forces the fourth Birmingham field goal from 19 yards out. Birmingham 20 – Michigan 10.
Michigan found yards hard to come by on the next drive. They settled for a Bates 52- yard field goal. Birmingham 20 – Michigan 13.
Both teams traded possessions in the fourth quarter and the score remains Birmingham 20 – Michigan – 13. Big play of the quarter. Michigan’s Bates kicks a 52-yard field goal.
Fourth Quarter
Michigan, working with a first down on their own 29-yard line, but the drive fizzled out. With Matt Corral continuing to alternate with Adrian Martinez, he makes two first down throws and works his way to the Panthers 44. Unlike week one when Michigan created plenty of pressure on St. Louis, the hits were few and far between on the tandem of Corral and Martinez. Ricky Person runs for nearly a dozen yards on third down for a first down to the Panther 24. A delayed keeper from Corral for 13 yards produced another first down at the Michigan nine. Noah Dawkins broke through for a takedown of a running play. The Panthers saved the game with a Keith Gipson Jr. interception in the endzone.
Michigan takes over at their own 25 following the interception. Three plays later and it’s the Stallions chance to build on their seven-point lead. They cannot move the ball and with 2:25 to go, Michigan has a final chance to tie or take the lead. Perry’s first down pass to Jordan Suell gains four. A Perry scramble for a first down and a 15-yard Stallions high hit on the QB slide. With the ball at the Stallions 42, Perry takes a sack from Scooby Wright for a loss of seven.
The Panthers were given new life on a second consecutive personal foul on the visitors and they take over on their 47. A short pass to Quinn and a second pass complete for a first down to the Birmingham 29. Following a false start penalty, Michigan has the ball second and 11 from the 42. A pair of Perry completions to Hikutini and Suell keep the team on the move. A sliding over the middle pass from Perry to Quinn at the 13 move the chains. After a pair of incompletions, Perry scrambles to the 14 creating a fourth and seven play with 20 seconds left. Perry’s desperation pass falls incomplete.
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Game Notes: The Michigan crowd was announced as 7,417 in attendance.
The St. Louis Battlehawks drew an early league record of 40,317 people in attendance at The Dome at America’s Center. St. Louis began the home portion of their 2024 United Football League (UFL) schedule against the Arlington Renegades.
UFL CHAMPIONSHIP
- TBD VS TBD Sunday, June 16 | 5:00 PM ET | St. Louis, MO | The Dome at America’s Center | FOX | FOX Sports on SiriusXM.
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