UFL’s Best Meet in Conference Championships

The UFL Conference Championships presented by New Era take center stage Sunday.

The action kicks off with the USFL Conference Championship and a familiar matchup, as the Michigan Panthers and Birmingham Stallions battle for the conference title for the second year in a row. The three-time defending champions look to continue their recent dominance over their conference foe and are focused on a fourth consecutive spring football championship. Quarterbacks Bryce Perkins and J’Mar Smith lead the UFL’s two highest scoring teams, with kickoff set for 3 PM ET on ABC.

At 6 PM ET, the action shifts to FOX for the XFL Conference Championship between the DC Defenders and the St. Louis Battlehawks. The Defenders arrive in St. Louis with the league’s most dangerous passing offense, but the Battlehawks counter with the league’s most proficient rushing attack. Each team features seven All-UFL Team selections, so there will be no shortage of big-time playmakers ready for highlight-reel moments.

Michigan vs. Birmingham. DC vs. St. Louis.
Two teams advance to the 2025 UFL Championship.

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MICHIGAN PANTHERS DOMINATE DC DEFENDERS 38-14 IN WEEK 6 UFL CLASH

The Michigan Panthers delivered their most complete performance of the season, overwhelming the DC Defenders with a commanding 38-14 victory at Ford Field on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers set a modern spring league franchise record for most points in a game while recording their largest margin of victory since 2022. Quarterback Bryce Perkins continued his MVP-caliber campaign with another stellar performance, leading Michigan to its fourth win of the season.

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER BREAKDOWN

FIRST QUARTER

The Panthers set the tone early with their defense making a critical fourth-down stop. DC opened with a promising 71-yard drive but was halted when Panthers defensive lineman Garrett Marino tackled Deon Jackson for no gain on fourth-and-one at the Michigan 5-yard line. Michigan’s offense responded immediately with an impressive 95-yard drive capped by Toa Taua’s 1-yard touchdown run, followed by Perkins converting the one-point attempt for a 7-0 lead.

SECOND QUARTER

The Defenders finally got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter when Jordan Ta’amu connected with Braylon Sanders for a 16-yard touchdown, though Michigan stopped the two-point conversion attempt to maintain a 7-6 lead. Michigan extended their advantage midway through the quarter when Perkins found Cole Hikutini for a 35-yard touchdown strike. The Panthers added a 45-yard field goal by B.T. Potter in the final minutes, taking a comfortable 17-6 lead into halftime.

THIRD QUARTER

The most action-packed quarter saw both teams combining for 21 points. Michigan opened the second half with a 73-yard scoring drive, featuring 48 yards from Perkins’ scrambles and culminating in a Nate McCrary 1-yard touchdown run. The Defenders answered immediately with a spectacular 65-yard touchdown pass from Ta’amu to Chris Rowland, successfully converting the two-point attempt to reduce their deficit to 24-14. Michigan countered with another scoring drive, highlighted by a 34-yard connection between Perkins and Gunnar Oakes, before Perkins scrambled for a 5-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 30-14.

FOURTH QUARTER

Michigan put the game firmly out of reach when Perkins threw his second touchdown pass of the day, finding Malik Turner for a 5-yard score after the ball was initially tipped. McCrary’s successful two-point conversion run finalized the score at 38-14. The Panthers’ defense shut out the Defenders in the final quarter to secure the dominant Michigan Panthers week 6 victory.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES

BRYCE PERKINS (MICHIGAN PANTHERS)

The Panthers quarterback continued his MVP-caliber season with another outstanding performance:

• 13-of-18 passing (72.2%) for 188 yards and 2 touchdowns
• 76 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown
• Responsible for 3 total touchdowns
• Led the Panthers to 400+ yards of total offense

CHRIS ROWLAND (DC DEFENDERS)

Despite the loss, Rowland had a remarkable game:

• 9 receptions for 144 yards and 1 touchdown
• Responsible for the Defenders’ biggest play with a 65-yard touchdown reception

TOA TAUA (MICHIGAN PANTHERS)

• 19 carries for 94 yards and 1 touchdown
• Led all rushers in the game

JORDAN TA’AMU (DC DEFENDERS)

• 19-of-36 passing (52.8%) for 259 yards and 2 touchdowns
• No interceptions despite trailing for most of the game

KEY MOMENTS THAT SHAPED THE OUTCOME

FOURTH-DOWN STOP IN THE FIRST QUARTER

Michigan’s defense set the tone early by stopping DC on fourth-and-one at the Panthers’ 5-yard line. Instead of potentially falling behind early, this pivotal stop allowed Michigan to take control with a 95-yard touchdown drive.

PERKINS-TO-HIKUTINI CONNECTION

Perkins’ 35-yard touchdown pass to Cole Hikutini in the second quarter extended Michigan’s lead to 14-6 and demonstrated the Panthers’ big-play capability.

DEFENDERS’ LEAPING PENALTY

A critical 4th-and-goal leaping penalty on DC’s D. Anderson in the third quarter (at 2:51) gave Michigan a fresh set of downs at the DC 3-yard line, leading to Perkins’ rushing touchdown that pushed the lead to 30-14.

PERKINS’ DUAL-THREAT DOMINANCE

The Panthers quarterback showcased his versatility throughout the game, particularly in the third quarter when he generated 48 yards on scrambles during a single drive, highlighting why he’s considered an MVP candidate.

TEAM STATISTICS

IMPACT ON STANDINGS AND PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS

With this decisive victory, the Michigan Panthers in week 6 improved to 4-2 on the season, maintaining their position as one of the UFL’s top contenders. The Panthers’ dominant performance, particularly on the ground with 213 rushing yards, establishes them as a formidable force heading into the latter part of the season.

The DC Defenders also now stand at 4-2 despite the loss, but this defeat could prove costly in tiebreaker scenarios and conference standings as the playoff picture begins to take shape.

Looking ahead, the Panthers will face the Arlington Renegades (3-3) in Week 7 on Saturday at Choctaw Stadium, while the Defenders will take on the San Antonio Brahmas (1-4) at The Alamodome on Friday night. Both teams remain in strong playoff contention, but Michigan’s statement victory gives them momentum and a potential tiebreaker advantage should these teams finish with identical records.

The Panthers’ balanced attack and Perkins’ continued excellence make them one of the most dangerous teams in the UFL as the second half of the season begins.

Photos: Alan Ashley – In Play! magazine

Michigan Panthers Schedule

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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

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Shirden’s Explosive Run: Jaden Shirden’s 43-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter provided crucial separation for the Panthers.
4. 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.
5. 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

Michigan Panthers Schedule

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2025 UFL KICKOFF WEEKEND IS HERE

The United Football League season begins tonight, March 28, with the debut of FOX UFL Friday!

Start your weekends with more of the spring football you love at 8 PM ET every Friday night. The 2025 season kicks off in Texas, where the Houston Roughnecks return to TDECU Stadium to host the visiting St. Louis Battlehawks.

The action continues on FOX at 4 PM ET on Saturday, as the defending conference champion San Antonio Brahmas travel to Arlington to take on the Renegades.

Sunday features an ESPN doubleheader starting at Noon ET, when the Michigan Panthers travel to Memphis to visit the Showboats. At 3 PM ET, the defending UFL Champion Birmingham Stallions make their first ever trip to the nation’s capital to take on the DC Defenders.

Spring football is back!

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