UFL CHAMPIONSHIP: PANTHERS OFFENSE HAS NO ANSWER FOR DEFENDERS

- Mike Mueller, Senior Editor 

Despite being one of the best defenses all year, the Michigan Panthers had no answer for the Jordan Ta’amu led offense of the DC Defenders. In the end, the Defenders won the 2nd UFL championship 58-34. 

Michigan’s offense started out hot, scoring touchdowns on 2 of their first 3 drives, but every time they started to get some momentum, DC would answer. The pivotal moment in the game happened early in the second quarter, when Panthers WR Xavier Malone fumbled a kick return inside the Panthers own 10 yard line. The score at the time was 15-13 DC, and from there, the Defenders wouldn’t look back. 

By halftime, the lead had already ballooned to 37-19. The Panthers defense, who had problems with giving up big plays in the second half of the year, continued to look disorganized, confused, and outmatched. Blown coverages and poor tackling, combined with the accuracy of Ta’amu made it impossible for the Panthers offense, who played pretty well, to get their team back in the game. 

All season long, the storyline was: If the Panthers convert their extra point attempts, and win the 3rd quarter, they will win the game. Michigan went just 1-5 on extra point attempts, and was outscored 15-0 in the first 15:04 of the second half. 

A late surge by Michigan, aided by two successful 4th and 12 onside play attempts, gave the Panthers the slimmest of hopes, as they were down two scores with six minutes still remaining, but a final DC touchdown slammed the door and Michigan will have to spend all offseason thinking of what might have been. 

Many people thought Jordan Ta’amu should have been either the offensive player of the year, or the league MVP, and it’s impossible to think that he didn’t carry a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Ta’amu finished the game 21-28 for 390 yards and 4 passing touchdowns, along with a rushing touchdown for good measure. 

The run game, which Michigan has shut down all year, was able to rip off 190 yards on the ground, making this an absolute offensive domination for DC.

After the game, Coach Nolan was obviously upset. He started the Q&A session as he always does after a loss, offering congratulations to the opposing coach and team. He then went on to lambast his defense, making no excuses for the poor play. 

Nolan is a class act who inherited a pitiful 2-8 team and quickly turned them into a perennial playoff team and championship contender, and hopefully he remains the Panthers head coach for a long time to come. 

Despite the disappointing finish, the Panthers should be proud of the season they had. They are the USFL division champions, having earned that title by knocking off the three time defending spring league champions, the Birmingham Stallions, who they were previously 0-7 against. The Panthers offense is as potent as any in the league, and assuming they’re able to return most of their players next year, there’s no reason to believe they won’t be right back in the championship game next year. 

On a personal note, it has been an absolute pleasure to cover this team all year long, and I encourage everybody reading this to do themselves a favor and get out to a few Panthers games next year. They saw a nearly 44% increase in attendance from last year, and there’s no reason that number won’t continue to grow in 2026. 

To use an all-too-common Detroit sports motto: “Next year will be our year.” 

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 "The Real MVP" 

- Tyler Yasembousky, Contributor

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It's been such an honor and privilege to be able to be a press member for this team. Obviously I’m not just a writer but a fan of the guys on this team. 

Coach Shannon Harris is one of the most down to earth men you will ever meet. He looks at every member of the press directly when speaking to them. That might seem small but it’s a very important thing. He has respect for everyone. Doesn’t matter if you work for a big company or a podcast brand like myself. 

This is Coach Harris’s first ever head coaching job….and he won the Coach of the year award. The first time that’s ever been done. 

Then we have QB Jordan Ta’amu, dude is a stud. He’s probably the face of the league and a face like that. How could He not be, yet he’s super chill and once again treats everyone equally. 

Jordan was robbed of the MVP vote in my opinion, so this would add extra fuel to his fire heading into the game. 

to say I was biased and rooting for the defenders would be an understatement.

Could DC become the first XFL conference team to win the UFL championship ? 

Let’s start our recap 

PANTHERS START OFF HOT 

The Panthers got the ball first in Saturday's matchup, and it took them just six plays to hit pay dirt. Michigan running back Nate McCray ran in for a 35-yard touchdown to put his team ahead early, 6-0.

(This writer was all ready nervous at this point) 

DEFENDERS ANSWERED IMMEDIATELY 

The Defenders' first drive also ended on a high note, with Ta'amu & Co. going 89 yards in 12 plays to knot things up. 

Jaydon Mickens 26-yard receiving touchdown made a statement and kept things competitive right out of the gate.

PANTHERS CLAW RIGHT BACK 

Michigan's second possession started with just over five minutes to go in the first quarter, and the Panthers went straight to work. League MVP Bryce Perkins hooked up with wideout Siaosi Mariner for a 38-yard touchdown and the ensuing one-point conversion to put Michigan ahead 13-6.

TA’ AMU LAUNCHES INCREDIBLE 60 PLUS YARD THROW ! 

After back-to-back-to-back touchdowns, the Defenders opened the second quarter with a field-goal drive to pull within four points, 13-9. The field goal was set up by a monster 65-yard throw from Ta'amu to WR Jaydon Mickens 

DC TAKES THE LEAD 

With all the momentum on DC's side, Michigan went three-and-out on their ensuing possession. 

The Defenders then tacked on another score with a quick four-play touchdown drive, culminating with Ta'amu linking up with WR Cornell Powell for a 19-yard score. Just like that, DC took its first lead of the night, 15-13

DC COMES UP WITH A BIG TURN OVER ! 

The Panthers suffered another miscue on their following drive, coughing up the ball on the kickoff return. Once again, it only took the Defenders four plays to cash in for a touchdown. This time it was all Ta'amu, who picked up the score on the ground to put DC ahead by 10 points, 23-13.

DC COOKING 

The Panthers went three-and-out on their next drive after their fumble. Once again, the Defenders capitalized on the missed opportunity by their opponent. DC extended its lead to 31-13 with a quick eight-play touchdown drive finished by Running back Deon Jackson 

PANTHERS ANSWER 

As Quick as that score from Dc was, Michigan was quicker though, firing back with a two-play scoring drive to keep things close, 31-19.

JORDAN SHOWS WHY HES THE TRUE MVP 

What's better than a 71-yard touchdown? How about a 73-yard touchdown? 

The Defenders did just that, one-upping the Panthers' previous score with a huge one of their own. Just like that, it was an 18-point game at halftime, 37-19.

HERE COMES THE BLOW OUT? 

The Defenders opened the second-half scoring with a field-goal drive to put them ahead by 20-plus points, 40-19. Then, the Panthers threw a costly interception on their following drive, and the Defenders turned the newfound possession into more points, courtesy of some fancy footwork from RB Deon Jackson 

Just like that, it was 46-19 midway through the third quarter.

ANOTHER ONE 

The Panthers went three-and-out to close out the third quarter, but things shifted big-time in the fourth. The Defenders added to their lead, capping off a lengthy 10-play drive with a rushing score to put them ahead 52-19.

PANTHERS GET BACK INTO THE GAME 

The Panthers answered with back-to-back touchdowns early in the fourth quarter, both coming from the dynamic duo of QB Bryce Perkins and WR Malik Turner 

Michigan got the ball back after opting for an alternative kickoff.

Malik turner had a incredible game for the panthers 

PANTHERS ADD 3 

Michigan had another successful alternate kickoff that resulted in a field goal before a failed attempt put the ball back in DC's hands. 

DC 52-34 

DEFENDERS CLOSE IT OUT 

The Defenders added another touchdown for good measure with just over five minutes to play, making it a 24-point game, 58-34, late in the fourth quarter. 

This time, it was Chris Rowland who rushed for 19 yards and the game-sealing score

That’s all she wrote and the DC Defenders are the 2025 UFL champions !!!! 

The 2025 UFL Championship Game was a thriller from start to finish 

I’m beyond thrilled for this team, this organization and this fan base ! 

RAISE THE SHIELDS ! 

Jordan might not have won the league MVP, but he’s now the UFL championship MVP and a UFL champion. I think he would take that any day ! 

That’s all for the DC defenders 2025 season. See you next year when the champions will try and defend their crown!

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