Inside the UFL
by Fran Stuchbury
May 16, 2024 - United Football League (UFL)
Week seven of the United Football League season saw some clarity emerge in the playoff picture. The Michigan Panthers clinched a spot in the USFL Conference Championship Game with a 22-9 victory over the D.C. Defenders. The Panthers bullied their way to 187 rushing yards in the game, 137 of them by Matthew Colburn II whose longest run went for 55 yards.
With starting quarterback Danny Etling out due to a hand injury, the Panthers used their third and fourth quarterbacks this season with Brian Lewerke and Bryce Perkins seeing action. E.J. Perry had started the season under center until suffering an injury.
The Michigan defense contributed three sacks for the game.
They will play the Birmingham Stallions for the conference title. The Stallions improved to 7-0 by holding off the St. Louis Battlehawks, 30-26. Birmingham quarterback Adrian Martinez continued making his case for MVP honors, passing for 230 yards and three touchdowns while adding 60 yards rushing on seven carries. The Stallions have won 14 straight games.
Birmingham's defense rang up 48 total tackles, four passes defended, and one interception by safety A.J. Thomas.
With a two-game lead in the division, the Stallions are in the driver's seat to host the conference title matchup if they continue to win. Birmingham hosts Michigan the final week of the UFL season so they will play each other back-to-back weeks when they face off in the playoffs.
In the XFL Division, the San Antonio Brahmas forged a tie with St. Louis atop the division by rallying past the Houston Roughnecks, 15-12. D.C. will need to make up two games over the final three weeks to wrestle a playoff spot away from the Battlehawks or Brahmas.
UFL Top 10 Plays from Week 7
Week 8 Games
Saturday May 18th
- Memphis Showboats at Michigan Panthers - 4 pm est. FOX
- Houston Roughnecks at Birmingham Stallions - 8 pm est. ESPN2
Sunday May 19th
- D.C. Defenders at St. Louis Battehawks - 12 pm est. ABC
- Arlington Renegades at San Antonio Brahmas - 4 pm est. FOX
EXTRA POINTS
- Saturday's Memphis Showboats - Arlington Renegades telecast on ESPN drew 586,436 viewers, while the St. Louis Battlehawks at Birmingham Stallions game on FOX totaled 758,284 viewers. Sunday's Michigan Panthers at Birmingham Stallions broadcast on FOX saw 665,001 viewers, and the San Antonio Brahmas at Houston Roughnecks game on ESON completed the weekend with 572,585 viewers.
- Attendance at Saturday's Memphis at Arlington game was 8,042, while St. Louis at Birmingham drew 14,056. Sunday's Michigan at D.C. game saw 12,222 and San Antonio at Houston drew 6,134.
- Birmingham Stallions quarterback Adrian Martinez, Arlington Renegades linebacker Donald Payne, and San Antonio Brahmas kicker Ryan Santoso were named the OurSports Central United Football League Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Unsung Hero of the Week, respectively, for week seven of the UFL season.
- Teams went three-of-five on one-point conversion attempts from the two-yard line, five-of-eleven on two-point conversions from the five-yard line, and one-of-two of three-point conversion from the 10-yard line.
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- Inside the UFL - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Inside the UFL - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Inside the UFL - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
