In their final matchup of the regular season, the Michigan Panthers returned to Ford Field for their first home game in four weeks, already assured that, regardless of the outcome, they have a date with the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL Conference Championship next week.
To sweeten the pot, the Panthers welcomed the man who took last year’s UFL season by storm, now-Lions place kicker Jake Bates, to receive his coronation as fans gathered to celebrate the kid from Texas they watched become an overnight superstar.
The presence of Bates also delivered a meaningful boost in turnout to end the team’s second year at Ford Field. The Panthers set a new attendance record in franchise history, drawing 16,014 fans on a day when the Detroit Grand Prix was also buzzing through downtown.
“They were outstanding. I can’t say enough about them.” Panthers head coach Mike Nolan commented on the energy and turnout the fans brought for the team’s last home game this year. “They were very noticeable in the game.”
But, there was another interesting wrinkle to the Panthers in what would ultimately fall in the category of a ‘tune-up’ game ahead of the postseason. With Bryce Perkins still recovering from an injury, head coach Mike Nolan opted to pivot off Danny Etling to gauge what his other quarterback might be capable of bringing to the team’s playoff push.
And thus, for the first time this season, Rocky Lombardi saw the start under center for Michigan.
Sadly, it appears that the Panthers’ third stringer still has some kinks that need to be ironed out.
Michigan’s defense struggled to find its footing early, particularly in the secondary. Roughnecks QB Jalan McClendan went 7-of-8 for 69 yards on the first drive of the day, resulting in Houston claiming an early 7-0 lead off Lorenzo Lingard’s 1-yard TD run.
On the Panthers’ opening drive, Lombardi led the offense all the way to a 1st & Goal from the Houston 5-yard line, but a muffed snap, along with some questionable decision-making by the signal caller, would lead to a fumble recovery by the defense at their own 34.
The ugly hits kept coming for Michigan in the first half. On a third-and-5 at midfield, Lombardi tore off a 49-yard touchdown run that could have evened up the score. Houston’s Ja’Quan Shepherd would be called for an illegal hands to the face on the scoring play, but Houston would use a Coach’s Challenge that the Panthers’ Siaosi Mariner retaliated with a personal foul of his own by reaching into Shepherd’s facemask. The challenge was successful, resulting in offsetting penalties and replaying the down – wiping away the touchdown. Michigan would not convert on the ensuing play, forcing them to punt.
After the Panthers defense forced a turnover on downs with just over two minutes remaining in the first half, Lombardi made his next costly error, throwing into coverage in the flat on the first snap of the drive – resulting in a pick-six by Marvin Moody Jr. to give the visiting Roughnecks a 13-0 lead.
In total, the Panthers would have three turnovers – two QB fumbles and Rocky’s pick-six – before the fourth quarter even began. But perhaps the most shocking part of the offense was the relative absence of its two biggest playmakers in the passing attack. The combo of Mariner and Malik Turner, Michigan’s top two receivers, would collectively record 1 catch on 7 targets for 1 yard.
“I do not think that this game will affect them,” Nolan shared after learning of the duo’s low output today. “In particular, those two guys, they’re both very professional about their jobs. I would count on them next week to be productive.”
With a chance to lead a rally in with under two minutes remaining and trailing by only a touchdown, Etling went deep on the first play of the drive, but overthrew his target and sent it straight into the arms of Roughnecks CB Keenan Isaac, bringing the team’s turnover count to 4 on the afternoon and ending any hopes of a comeback.
The Panthers now turn their sights to the upcoming playoff matchup with Birmingham. Nolan was asked about the status of his team’s starting quarterback, Bryce Perkins, who has been sidelined for the last three games of the season with an ankle injury. Perkins carried a ‘probable’ designation going into Saturday’s home finale, and despite his absence on the day, his head coach offered a vote of confidence on the status of his biggest playmaker.
“It’s our expectation that, by the end of the week, he’ll be playing (as the starter) against Birmingham. We certainly won’t play a player that’s injured or hurt, but he’s gotten progressively better.”
Final: Panthers 12, Roughnecks 19
NEXT WEEK: The Michigan Panthers travel to face the defending champ, the Birmingham Stallions, in the USFL Conference Championship on Sunday, June 8.
