This game will be the second meeting between Memphis and Michigan this season. In the first game, during UFL Week 5, the Panthers won 35-18 in Memphis.
The Memphis Showboats are looking to snap a six-game losing streak. Meanwhile, the Michigan Panthers are looking to continue their winning streak of three games, and further solidify the spot in the USFL Conference Championship Game they earned in last week’s win.
What do we know?
Last week in Arlington, the Showboats held high expectations to add another victory to their record and boost their already slim playoff chances. However, things did not go their way, as the Renegades jumped on the Memphis Showboats early and used that momentum to pull away for a 47-23 victory.
Arlington had already grabbed a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter. Memphis was looking to get some momentum and went for a deep shot down the left sideline. Tenny Adewusi intercepted Troy Williams’ pass, returning it 47 yards to the Memphis 24-yard line. Two plays later, DeVeon Smith powered into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was successful, and Arlington led 22-3 with 11:50 left in the first half. The rest of the game was back-and-forth, but Memphis couldn’t close the early gap.
Williams finished 14-of-21 passing for 127 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Case Cookus was 11-of-17 for 103 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception in relief. Williams led the Showboats in rushing for 37 yards on six carries. Daewood Davis hauled in seven receptions for 83 yards and a score, while Vinny Papale caught seven for 55 yards and a touchdown.
Case Cookus left the Week 4 game at St. Louis with a shoulder injury, leading to Troy Williams’ first start in Week 5. Cookus returned to the lineup in Week 6. Williams was back under center last week vs. Arlington. But he suffered a rib injury on a third-quarter touchdown run and left the game.
The Showboats injury report is quite lengthy, with offensive lynchpins Sage Surratt and Vinny Papale limited to practice. Despite their scheduled participation in the upcoming game, they could be considered the walking wounded. Additionally, the depth chart released on Thursday names Case Cookus as the starting quarterback and Josh Love as his backup.
Memphis has the worst defense in the UFL, allowing 31.1 points per game and giving up an average of 350 yards per game. Clearly, things have not been going their way.
When the Showboats met the Panthers in Week 5, Michigan jumped out to a 19-0 lead. The Showboats climbed back in, pulling within seven late in the third quarter. But the Panthers scored the final 10 points.
The Michigan Panthers are currently on a three-game winning streak, the longest win streak in this new era of Panthers football. In Week 7, Michigan took the win against the D.C. Defenders with a 22-9 victory at Washington’s Audi Field.
With quarterback Danny Etling missing the Week 7 game, Brian Lewerke started the D.C. game, where he completed 5 passes on 13 attempts for 37 yards. In the game, the Panthers used a two-quarterback system, and Bryce Perkins was impressive, completing 11 of 13 passes for 116 yards. Danny Etling is still injured and limited in practice this week. It is not clear whether the Panthers will go back to Etling this week, but they just might rest Etling with the hope he can get back to 100 percent in time for the conference final.
The Panthers put on a show on the ground against D.C., with their rushing attack proving vital for the Panthers, who tallied 187 total yards and two scores on the ground. With 137 yards, Matthew Colburn II led the way, with 107 coming in the first half. Colburn set a new Panthers individual game-high in rushing yards and tied a game-high in rushes (16), as well as totaling the third-most rushing yards in a game in the UFL this season. Stalwart running back Wes Hills carried 10 times for 37 yards and a touchdown.
The leading receiver for Michigan was Samson Nacua, with six receptions for 45 yards. Kelvin Harmon caught six balls for 37 yards for DC, and five receivers had two catches for the Defenders, including Scott, who finished with 87 yards and a score. Marcus Simms and Siosia Mariner, two Panther receivers, sustained injuries and missed practice earlier this week due to concussions.
Meanwhile, the Panthers are 3rd in the UFL in scoring defense, allowing just 18.6 points per game. Defensive end Breeland Speaks is key on their defensive, making a notable sack of D.C. quarterback Jordan Ta’amu during the D.C. game, resulting in Ta’amu leaving the game. Speaks now has 5.5 sacks for the season, ranking second in the UFL.
As per normal, Panthers kicker Jake Bates had a solid performance, finishing the game 3-for-3 on field goals. He now leads the league with 15 field goals. Bates is healthy and kicks like an NFL veteran.
What should we expect?
Oddsmakers give the Panthers a large edge in this game, which they also expect to be a high-scoring affair. Although the Showboats are out of the running for a playoff spot and have nothing to play for, their players are now playing for pride and film.
Although the O/U for this game is 47.5, expect Michigan to post another resounding defensive performance, and scoring may be limited.
Meanwhile, the Panthers are playing at home this week and vying for home field advantage in the upcoming USFL conference championship game. To do this, the Panthers need to win their final three games, and the Birmingham Stallions would need to lose their final three games. It is an unlikely scenario for the unbeaten Stallions, but the Panthers can dream.
Look for the Panthers to take this game very seriously and put up another notch in their win column.
