Sports stats



UFL Michigan Panthers

Michigan Panthers Game Notes for Week 7 vs. the DC Defenders

May 9, 2024 - United Football League (UFL)
Michigan Panthers News Release


The 4-2 Michigan Panthers have picked up back-to-back wins for the first time this season and will look to extend their winning streak to three games against a D.C. Defenders team that is finding their footing in the XFL Conference. Panthers kicker Jake Bates has continued his UFL dominance, booting five field goals at Ford Field in Week 6, including the 42-yard game-winner, in their 28-27 win against Arlington. The Panthers have picked up two straight wins with Danny Etling under center. In those two wins, the Panthers have scored a touchdown on their first possession of the game. Their quick starts have come at a great time as they look to lock up a playoff spot in the USFL Conference. Michigan currently sits three games in front of the Showboats and Roughnecks who are both 1-5. The Defenders are not to be taken lightly, however, as they are coming off a win against the San Antonio Brahmas. The Defenders are 10-1 on home turf at Audi Field since 2020, and the Panthers will have to overcome the raucous crowd and the infamous "beer snake." Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu is third in the league in passing yards with 1,067. The Panthers defense will be up to the task, as they held league leader Luis Perez to just 180 yards in Week 6. On the other side, D.C.'s defense leads the league in total and solo tackles.

LIVING IN A SIMMULATION

Michigan wide receiver has taken the league by storm through the first six weeks of the season, ranking second in the league with 385 receiving yards and three touchdowns on only 19 receptions. His 20.3 average per catch leads the league. After only making two receptions for 38 yards in Week 1 against St. Louis, he followed that performance up with three catches for 96 yards, including a 76-yard catch, against Birmingham and four catches for 84 yards, includ- ing a 66-yard score, against Houston. Against San Antonio, the West Virginia product finished with four catches for 63 yards, including the team's lone touchdown which went for 41 yards. In Week 5 at Memphis, Simms had two catches for 37 yards. In Week 6 against Arlington, he finished with 67 catches on four receptions. Simms also added a 45- yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter against the Rene- gades, which help set up a Jake Bates field goal to win the game. He also ranks fifth in the league in all-purpose yards after recording 586 yards, which includes 201 kickoff return yards as he has returned six kickoffs through five weeks.

BATES. BOOTS. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.

Michigan Panthers' kicker Jake Bates has been other worldly this season. Below are a few notes through six games this year with additional commentary on a week-to-week basis:

-Jake Bates is 12-of-14 this season, tied for the most FGM and FGA with DC's Matthew McCrane and St. Louis' Andrew Szmyt.

-Bates is a perfect 10-for-10 when kicking at Ford Field, including going 5-for-5 in Week 6 against Arlington.

-Bates is 3-for-4 from 60-plus yards (64-yard FG in Week 1, 62-yard FG in Week 2, 60-yard FG in Week 6).

-Bates' 3 FGM from 60-plus yards are more than any NFL kicker has made in an individual season, and he's done it in six weeks.

-Bates' 3 FGM trail only Brett Maher's 4 FGM (63-yard FG in 2019, 62-yard FG in 2019, 62-yard FG in 2018, 60-yard FG in 2022) in terms of career 60-plus yard FGs for the most in professional football. Bates' is tied with Matt Prater (64-yard FG in 2013, 62-yard FG in 2021, 62-yard FG in 2023) and Greg Zuerlein (61-yard FG in 2015, 60-yard FG in 2022, 60-yard FG in 2012)

-Bates' 64-yard field goal with three seconds left in the game against St. Louis in Week 1is tied for the second longest field goal in professional football history, only behind Justin Tucker's 66-yard field, which he made in 2021, coincidentally at Ford Field. Bates' field goal tied Matt Prater, who made a 64-yard field goal in 2013.

-The game-winning field goal in Week 1 was Bates first-ever made field goal in his football career at any level (he previously kicked extra points for the Houston Texans during the 2023 preseason).

-The ball that Bates kicked in Week 1 kicked is now representing the UFL in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

-Bates became only the second kicker to connect on 60-plus yard field goals in back-to-back weeks. Brett Maher of the Dallas Cowboys is the only other who did it in Weeks 6 & 7 in 2019, connecting on 62-yard FG and 63-yard FG.

-Bates (24) is the fourth youngest kicker to ever make a 60-plus yard field goal at the professional level behind: Jake Elliott (22 in 2017), Tom Dempsey (23 in 1970) and Justin Tucker (23 in 2013).

Bates is ahead of Dan Carpenter (24 in 2010) and Greg Zeurlein (24 in 2012) as he made his 64- yard field goal on his 24th birthday.

-Bates served as a kickoff specialist from high school and into college following a stint on the Central Arkansas soccer team, but never attempted a field goal.

Additional Bates notes... What makes Bates' Week 1 64-yard field goal even more impressive is that he connected on it twice. The first attempt didn't count as the St. Louis coaching staff called a timeout directly before the play, but Bates' was already in his kicking motion and the ball easily went through the uprights. After being iced by the Battlehawks, he calmly settled in and connected on the extremely long field goal once again and gave Michigan a 18-16 lead ... Bates followed that performance up in Week 2 going 2-for-2 against the Birmingham Stallions. He started by nailing a 62-yard field goal as time expired in the first half ... Bates continued his perfect start to the season by going 2-for-2 against Houston in Week 3, connecting from 46 yards and 55 yards ... Against San Antonio in Week 4, Bates converted his only attempt, which was from 49 yards ... In Week 5, he missed two attempts but weather played a bit of a factor. Bates was 1-of-3, connecting on a 30-yard attempt, but missing on 58-yard and 62-yard attempts in the second quarter following a downpour ... In Week 6 against Arlington, Bates kicked two field goals as time expired, making a 60-yard attempt at the end of the first half and a 47-yard game-winning field goal to end the game. He finished the game a perfect 5-of-5.

NEW YEAR, NEW RESULTS AT FORD FIELD

Last season in the USFL, the Michigan Panthers won only one of their five games while playing at Ford Field. After starting 0-4 in the "friendly" confines, the Panthers defeated the Philadelphia Stars 23-20 and earned a playoff berth with their first home win. In five games, Michigan was outscored 127 to 66 by its opponents. In 2024, though, the Panthers have surpassed their win total in the Motor City with an 18-16 win over St. Louis in Week 1 and a 34-20 win over Houston in Week 3. The 16 points against the Battlehawks are the fewest points ever allowed by Michigan while playing at Ford Field. Following the team's 28-27 win over Arlington in Week 6, the Panthers are 3-1 at home this season.

PLAYOFF CLINCHING SCENARIOS

Last week, the Birmingham Stallions became the first team in the United Football League to clinch a spot in the postseason. The Stallions became the fasted team in spring football history to clinch a spot in their league's respective playoff. Heading into Week 7, the Michigan Panthers can look to also clinch a spot in the USFL Conference Championship game with a win over the DC Defenders AND losses by both the Memphis Showboats (vs. Arlington Renegades) and Houston Roughnecks (vs. San Antonio Brahmas). If either Memphis or Houston lose combined with a Michigan win, they will individually be eliminated. The only playoff implication on the XFL Conference side is that Arlington also faces elimination if they suffer a loss to Memphis OR if San Antonio defeats Houston.

MIDSEASON HONORS FROM PRO FOOTBALL NEWSROOM

On May 1, Pro Football Newsroom announced its Midseason All-UFL Selections. The Michigan Panthers had seven players selected. The full list is below:

OFFENSE

QB - A.J. McCarron, St. Louis

RB - Jacob Saylors, St. Louis; Wes Hills, Michigan

WR - Marcus Simms, Michigan; Hakeem Butler, St. Louis; Jontre Kirklin, San Antonio; Deon Cain, Birmingham

TE - Jace Sternberger, Birmingham

OL - Sam Tecklenburg (C), San Antonio; Liam Fornadel (OG), DC Defenders; Steve Gonzalez (OG), Matt Kaskey (OT), Birmingham; Juwann Bushell-Beatty (OT), St. Louis

DEFENSE

DL - Carlos Davis (DT), Birmingham; Jalen Redmond (DT), Arlington; Breeland Speaks (DE), Michigan; Pita Taumoepenu (DE), St. Louis; Malik Fisher (EDGE), DC

LB - Mike Rose, St. Louis, Tavante Beckett, San Antonio; Kyahva Tezino, Birmingham; Frank Ginda, Michigan

DB - Lorenzo Burns (CB), Birmingham; Darius Phillips (CB), San Antonio; Kai Nacua (S), Michigan; Kenny Robinson (S), Birmingham; Kyree Woods (Flex DB), Memphis)

ST - Jake Bates (K), Michigan; Sterling Hofricter (P), St. Louis; Jordan Ober (LS), Michigan; Darrius Shepherd (KR), St. Louis; Amari Rodgers (PR), Birmingham

O'KAI, WE SEE YOU!

Michigan safety Kai Nacua recorded his third interception of the season in the Panthers' Week 5 victory over Memphis. It was also his second interception in as many weeks. His three picks rank first in the UFL this season and only St. Louis' Mike Rose has recorded more than one INT this year. Nacua's three picks are more than Memphis (2), San Antonio (2) and DC (1) have recorded this year as individual teams. The Las Vegas native also is tied for the league lead in pass breakups (6 PBU) with DC's Michael Jospeh. Nacua leads the team with 35 tackles this season and has also recorded one sack. As a team, the Panthers ranked tied for third with five interceptions and are second in the league with 28 pass breakups through six games.

SPEAKING IT INTO EXISTENCE

Michigan defensive end Breeland Speaks led the defensive charge against the Memphis Showboats in Week 5, tallying three of the team's seven total sacks in the game. Speaks, who was named to the All-USFL team last season, ranks tied for third in the UFL this season with 4.5 sacks. He has also recorded one forced fumble this season. As a team, the Panthers rank third in the league with 14 total sacks.

MICHIGAN CONNECTIONS

A total of five Michigan Panther players have connections to the Great Lakes State. Running back Nate McCrary (Muskegon) and linebacker Kenny Willekes (Rockford) are natives of the state, while three additional players played college football in Michigan. The full list of players, their hometowns and universities are below:

19 QB Brian Lewerke Phoenix, Arizona Michigan State

28 RB Nate McCrary Muskegon, Michigan Saginaw Valley State

48 DE Kenny Willekes Rockford, Michigan Michigan State

79 OL Jarrett Horst Middleton, Wisconsin Michigan State

84 TE Gunnar Oakes Swanton, Ohio Eastern Michigan

ROLLING HILLS

Last season in the USFL, Michigan running back Wes Hills led the league in rushing with 679 as a member of the New Orleans Breakers. After being selected by the Panthers in the dispersal draft ahead of the 2024 UFL season, Hills picked up where he left off, rushing for 85 yards in the team's season-opening win against the St. Louis Battlehawks. However over the next three weeks, he tallied only 58 rushing yards, but in Week 5, Hills reemerged as the best back in the league. Against Memphis, Hills rushed for 82 yards on 16 carries and found paydirt three times. Through six games, Hills ranks fourth in the league in rushing with 240 yards.

Check out the Michigan Panthers Statistics

• Discuss this story on the United Football League message board...

United Football League Stories from May 9, 2024


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central