STALLIONS BEAT PANTHERS....AGAIN

- Mike Mueller, Senior Editor

Some teams just have your number. Whatever you do, no matter how good you play in every other game, you just can’t get past them. For the Michigan Panthers (and most teams), that’s the Birmingham Stallions. The Stallions won the week 10 match 20-19 after Jake Bates missed a 53 yard field goal as time expired. Now, one week later, the Stallions again bested the Panthers in the USFL Championship game, 31-18. 

It was particularly heartbreaking for the Panthers, who were up 18-3 more than halfway through the second quarter, but a 50 yard bomb from Adrain Martinez turned momentum into Birmingham’s favor and they never looked back. The Stallions scored 28 unanswered points and forced 5 turnovers from Panthers QB Danny Etling. 

Interestingly, the Stallions switched quarterbacks at the half, and Matt Corral took over for an inconsistent Martinez and helped Birmingham complete their comeback. Meanwhile, the Panthers never turned to their backup, Brian Lewerke, and one can't help but wonder if that could have made some sort of a difference. If Bryce Perkins had been healthy, it would have been far more likely that Coach Nolan 

Regardless of the outcome of this game, the Panthers had an incredible season. For a team that was 4-6 a year ago, Michigan improved in every facet of their game and finished with a 7-3 record. Mike Nolan was named UFL Coach of the Year, Breeland Speaks was Defensive Player of the Year, and seven Panthers were named to the All-UFL team: WR Marcus Simms, DL Marcus Wise, EDGE Breeland Speaks, CB Nate Brooks, SS Kai Nacua, Long Snapper Jordan Ober, and K Jake Bates. 

It’s difficult to predict what the Panthers will do this offseason, as several players will surely be working out for NFL teams after their successful seasons, but one thing is certain: Coach Nolan has laid the groundwork for a team that could raise many UFL trophies in the future…just as soon as they can get past the Stallions. To quote the great Lou Brown in Major League, “Someday we’ll figure out how to beat those guys.” 

Next week the Stallions (9-1) will play in the UFL championship game against XFL division winners San Antonio Brahmas (7-3). That game will air on Sunday, June 16th at 6:00 PM EST on FOX