Michigan Panthers vs San Antonio Brahmas April 13 2025 Gallery
In a thrilling Week 3 matchup April 13, 2025 at Ford Field, the Michigan Panthers secured a narrow victory over the San Antonio Brahmas with a dramatic finish that came down to the final seconds. The win improved Michigan’s record to 2-1, while the Brahmas fell to 0-3 on the season.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio | 3 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 23 |
| Michigan | 0 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 26 |
Game Summary
First Quarter
The Brahmas struck first, capitalizing on an early drive that featured big plays from Anthony McFarland and a 30-yard reception by Jacob Harris. Donald De La Haye Jr. (known as “Deestroying”) kicked a 36-yard field goal at 10:22 to give San Antonio an early 3-0 lead. Michigan’s offense struggled to get going with Danny Etling initially at quarterback. The Panthers attempted a 45-yard field goal late in the quarter, but B.T. Potter’s kick was blocked, allowing the Brahmas to maintain their lead.
Second Quarter
San Antonio extended their lead with two more field goals from De La Haye — a impressive 55-yarder at 13:46 and a 33-yarder at 6:01, pushing their advantage to 9-0. After Etling was knocked out of the game due to a hard hit from Jordan Mosley, Bryce Perkins took over at quarterback for Michigan and immediately sparked the offense. Perkins led a scoring drive culminating in his 2-yard touchdown run at 3:53, followed by a successful 1-point conversion (also by Perkins) to cut the deficit to 9-7. The Panthers added a 34-yard field goal from Potter as time expired in the half to take a 10-9 lead into the break.
Third Quarter
Michigan’s momentum continued as they converted a crucial 4th-and-3 with Perkins hitting D. Ross for a 12-yard gain. This led to another Perkins rushing touchdown, this time from 2 yards out at 8:32. With Toa Taua’s successful 1-point conversion, the Panthers extended their lead to 17-9. The Brahmas responded with their first touchdown of the game when Kellen Mond connected with Anthony McFarland for a 15-yard score at 2:06, though they failed on the 2-point conversion attempt, leaving the score at 17-15. Michigan answered quickly with Jaden Shirden breaking free for a spectacular 43-yard touchdown run at 1:22, pushing their lead to 23-15 after their 1-point attempt failed.
Fourth Quarter
In a dramatic turn of events, San Antonio’s Jordan Williams intercepted a Perkins pass and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown at 5:03. Jashaun Corbin successfully converted the 2-point attempt, tying the game at 23-23. Michigan put together a methodical drive in the closing minutes, relying on Taua and Shirden to move into field goal range. B.T. Potter delivered the go-ahead 28-yard field goal with just 54 seconds remaining, giving the Panthers a 26-23 lead. San Antonio had one final opportunity, but De La Haye’s 53-yard field goal attempt with 3 seconds left missed, securing Michigan’s victory.
Key Performers
Michigan Panthers
- Bryce Perkins (QB): 17-23, 193 passing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
- Jaden Shirden (RB): 7 carries, 59 yards, 1 touchdown (including a game-changing 43-yard score)
- B.T. Potter (K): 2-for-3 on field goals, including the game-winning 28-yarder
San Antonio Brahmas
- Kellen Mond (QB): 19-31, 152 passing yards, 1 touchdown
- Jordan Williams (LB): 9 tackles, 1 interception returned 85 yards for a touchdown
- Donald De La Haye (K): 3-for-4 on field goals, including a 55-yarder
Key Statistics
Total Yards:
- Michigan: 314 (199 passing, 115 rushing)
- San Antonio: 258 (137 passing, 121 rushing)
Time of Possession:
- Michigan: 28:34
- San Antonio: 31:26
Turnovers:
- Michigan: 1 (interception returned for TD)
- San Antonio: 0
Red Zone Efficiency:
- Michigan: 2-for-6
- San Antonio: 1-for-3
Critical Plays
- Quarterback Change: Danny Etling was knocked out of the game in the first quarter after taking a hard hit from Jordan Mosley, forcing Bryce Perkins to enter earlier than planned. This ultimately worked in Michigan’s favor as Perkins sparked the offense.
- Fourth Down Conversion: Michigan’s 4th-and-3 conversion in the third quarter (Perkins to Ross for 12 yards) kept alive a drive that resulted in a touchdown and extended their lead to 17-9.
- Shirden’s Explosive Run: Jaden Shirden’s 43-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter provided crucial separation for the Panthers.
- Pick-Six: Jordan Williams’ 85-yard interception return for a touchdown with 5:03 remaining in the fourth quarter completely changed the game’s momentum, tying the score at 23-23.
- Missed Field Goal: De La Haye’s missed 53-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds ended the Brahmas’ hopes of at least forcing overtime.
Impact on Standings
With this victory, the Michigan Panthers improved to 2-1 and moved into a tie with the Birmingham Stallions for first place in the USFL Conference, both holding a .667 winning percentage. Despite having identical records, Birmingham holds the tiebreaker after defeating Michigan head-to-head in Week 2.
The Panthers have positioned themselves well in the playoff race, sitting second in their conference behind the Stallions. Their strong offensive showing (64 points through three games) bodes well for their prospects moving forward.
Meanwhile, the San Antonio Brahmas fell to 0-3, remaining winless and at the bottom of the XFL Conference. They now face a significant uphill battle to get back into playoff contention, especially in a conference where the DC Defenders (3-0) and both the Arlington Renegades and St. Louis Battlehawks (2-1) have shown strong form.
What’s Next
The Panthers will look to build on this momentum as they continue their playoff push, while the Brahmas desperately need to turn things around quickly if they hope to salvage their season. The win was particularly crucial for Michigan as they prepare for tougher matchups ahead in their bid to secure a playoff berth.
Photos: Alan Ashley – In Play! magazine
