Panthers Lose Home Opener at Ford Field
After a strong season debut, the Michigan Panthers couldn’t keep the momentum rolling at home, falling 21-12 to the Birmingham Stallions in front of the Ford Field crowd Friday night.
The Panthers entered Week 2 on a high after a commanding 26-12 win over the Memphis Showboats. That performance showed off sharp execution, smart defense, and solid play from quarterback Bryce Perkins. But against Birmingham, a slow start and missed chances proved costly.
Birmingham took the lead early with two field goals from Harrison Mevis, putting them up 6-0 by halftime. The Panthers struggled to get into a rhythm, with penalties and missed opportunities stopping them from getting on the scoreboard.
In the third quarter, the Stallions capitalized with a 1-yard touchdown run from Ricky Person Jr., extending their lead to 12-0. Then, early in the fourth, quarterback Matt Corral connected with Deon Cain for a huge 52-yard touchdown pass, making it 18-0 in favor of Birmingham.
With time running out, the Panthers refused to go down without a fight. Perkins connected with wide receiver Marcus Simms for a 9-yard touchdown pass, and then took matters into his own hands, running in a successful three-point conversion to pull Michigan within striking distance at 18-9. But despite a valiant effort, the Stallions’ defense held strong and closed out the game to hand Michigan their first loss of the season.
While the score didn’t reflect it, Michigan showed they could hang with Birmingham in some key areas. The Panthers outgained the Stallions on the ground, 105 rushing yards to 71, and tied them in first downs at 13 each. Michigan also controlled the clock a little better, holding onto the ball for 28:16 compared to Birmingham’s 27:36. But big plays from the Stallions in key moments proved to be the difference.
Perkins finished the night with 94 yards passing, one touchdown, and one interception. Nate McCrary led the run game with 47 yards on 13 carries. Siaosi Mariner was the top target in the passing game, grabbing three catches for 44 yards.
The loss drops Michigan to 1-1, but the team showed heart, especially in the final quarter. After last week’s dominant performance, this game serves as a reminder of how important consistency is in this league. The Panthers will look to bounce back in Week 3 with a more complete, four-quarter performance as they defend their home turf.
