PANTHERS MESS WITH BULL, NARROWLY AVOID HORNS

Like a skilled matador, the Michigan Panthers allowed the San Antonio Brahmas to get dangerously close, before pulling their muleta away and ultimately escaping unharmed.

 

11,013 fans were in Ford Field to cheer the Michigan Panthers on to a 26-23 victory. In what was arguably the best game of the young season, this Panthers team showed it has grit, resiliency, discipline, and just a little bit of luck. 

 

The game opened up with the Stallions driving right down the field, primarily through the run game, which is something most teams struggle to do against Michigan. However, facing a 4th and 1 at the Michigan 13 yard line, the Brahmas were looking to go for it, but a false start pushed them back, and San Antonio settled for a field goal, taking a quick 3-0 lead. 

 

Coach Mike Nolan gave Danny Etling the start, however for the second time in as many weeks, he had to leave the game after taking a nasty hit on the Panther’s second drive.

 

The Brahmas’ second drive started at their own two yard line after a holding penalty by San Antonio on the punt. Penalties were a killer for the Brahmas, who ended the game with 11 for 103 yards. 

 

The Michigan defense gave their offense a very short field after that. However, after getting to a first and goal situation, the Panthers got driven back to the point of Kicker BT Potter suddenly looking at a 45 yard field goal attempt. Potter’s kick ended up being blocked and all the momentum that Michigan had suddenly disappeared. 

 

This scenario played itself out a few more times, with Michigan’s offense struggling to get anything going, and the Brahmas putting up field goals. The game stood at 9-0 San Antonio when WR/KR Devin Ross returned the kickoff to midfield. Suddenly a spark within the Panthers came alive. 

 

After completing back-to-back throws, Bryce Perkins nearly hurdled a Brahma defender for the touchdown. While he didn’t get in on that play, the next down saw him finish the job. After scrambling for the touchdown, Perkins again scrambled for a one point conversion, and suddenly the Panthers were only down two points with just under four minutes to go in the half.

 

The Panthers truly seized momentum when they were able to get the ball back at the two minute warning, drive the field, and kick a short field goal before the half ended. This drive was once again aided by a bad Brahmas penalty. After looking horrible for the first 1 and ⅔ quarters of the game, the Panthers entered half time with a 10-9 lead. 

 

Last year, a huge part of the Panthers’ success came from dominating the third quarter through making great halftime adjustments. The first drive for Michigan’s second half saw them drive to the San Antonio 43 yard line. Facing a 4th-and-3, Mike Nolan continued his history of gutsy calls. Bryce Perkins was able to connect with Devin Ross, and keep the drive going. 

 

After two very tough catches by WR Malik Turner, Bryce Perkins scrambled in for his second touchdown of the day. Another successful one point attempt saw Michigan expand its lead, 17-9.

 

The Brahmas offense, which had been hindered by penalties and goal line stops, finally got to the end zone for the first time when QB Kellen Mond connected with RB Anthony McFarland on a very well thrown ball. Looking to tie the game with a two point conversion, another penalty forced San Antonio to attempt the conversion   from the 10 yard line, and that proved to be too large of a task. The conversion failed and Michigan found themselves clinging to a 17-15 lead. 

 

However, the excitement for San Antonio quickly died as Jaden Shirden busted out the play of the day when he exploded for a 43 yard touchdown run that is sure to get the attention of teams in other leagues. Michigan seized momentum back and opened their lead to 23-15 as the third quarter came to an end. Once again, the Panthers outscored their opponents in the 3rd quarter, now it was time to see if that meant another Panthers win, or if San Antonio could overcome the odds. 

 

After the Brahmas had an 8:22 drive result in a punt, it seemed like this would be an easy victory for the Panthers. However, with Michigan driving once again, looking to seal the game, Perkins made an inexplicable throw that was picked off and taken to the house by Jordan Williams. The Brahmas were finally able to hit a two point conversion, and just like that the game was tied with less than five minutes to go. 

 

But, just as they’d done all game (minus that first quarter), every time the Panthers took a hit, they punched right back. Devin Ross had another incredible return, getting into San Antonio territory. It must have felt so good for Devin Ross to have the kind of bounceback game he had. He was the goat of the Birmingham game after he muffed a punt that would have given the Panthers the chance to tie the game late. A game like that can mentally break a player, but Ross responded by having his best ever outing as a returner. 

 

Taking advantage of the clock and the short field position, the Panthers looked to grind the clock down and win in the last moments of the game. Their plan worked as they were able to get all the way to the San Antonio 13 yard line and kick a go-ahead field goal, leaving the Brahmas only 50 seconds and no time outs to make a heroic comeback. 

 

On the second play of the drive, it looked like the Panthers won the game after a recovered fumble. However, replay showed that the receiver’s knee was down and the drama continued. After some medium gains and excellent use of the clock, Mond was able to spike the ball, setting up a 53 yard field goal attempt with three seconds to go. Earlier in the game, Brahmas Kicker Donald De La Haye (known online as Deestroying) hit a 55 yarder with plenty of leg to spare, so it was definitely possible.

 

Ford Field is the home of incredible field goals, and everybody in the stadium felt like this game was destined for overtime. However, the kick sailed wide left and the Michigan Panthers hung on to a very narrow 26-23 victory. 

 

After the game, Kellen Mond alluded to the first half drives in which the Brahmas had to settle for field goals as the biggest thing that prevented San Antonio from getting over the hump. Jordan Williams said that for the defense, it was still putting all the pieces together for a very new group of players. “On defense, one player can’t mess up. For the offense, one player can make something magical happen and go 70 yards down the field. For defense, if we’re not all on the same page, it's tough.”

 

In speaking with Mike Nolan, he spoke of the importance of halftime adjustments. “There are two kinds of halftime adjustments. One is because your opponent is giving you trouble, and the other is when you’re your own worst enemy. We were really depleted on defense, especially in the secondary. [At halftime] The defense was talking about scheme issues. I quickly reminded them, ‘guys there's not anything that they're doing that’s particularly creative or innovative, they’re just playing well. We just have to make sure we’re protecting our players.’ 

 

He continued, “On [offense] we decided we needed to go down the field a little bit more in the second half, which is what we prepared all week to do. That helped us a lot. Whether it was complete or incomplete, just that the defense respects that you’re trying to go downfield is important.” 

 

Defensive Tackle Garrett Marino didn’t seem too concerned about the success of San Antonio’s run game. “They’re a good team. We just had a couple guys in the wrong spots at the wrong time. It was nothing we weren’t expecting.” 

 

Next week, the Panthers (2-1) will host the Memphis Showboats (0-3) in a week one rematch. That game will kick off on Friday, April 18 at 8 PM EST on FOX. The Brahmas (0-3) will stay on the road, taking on the red hot D.C. Defenders (3-0), with kickoff scheduled for 5 PM EST on Sunday, April 20.