PANTHERS SINK SHOWBOATS

The Michigan Panthers opened up their 2025 season with a 26-12 victory over the Memphis Showboats. 

 

Just six days before the start of the season, Showboats HC Ken Whisenhunt had to leave the team for an undisclosed personal reason. Memphis tapped Offensive Line coach Jim Turner to take over the duties on an interim basis. The Showboats turned over 75% of their roster from last season, by far the largest turnover of any team in the league, and Turner said that a large part of this first game was giving as many players starting time as possible, to get a feel for the best starting roster moving forward. 

 

The game started out strong for Michigan, as they were able to hold Memphis to a three-and-out after CB Adonis Alexander delivered a huge hit to break up the 3rd down pass. 

 

The Panthers wasted no time on their first drive, going down the field thanks to a strong running game by Matthew Colburn and Nate McCreary, and a huge bubble screen pass to Marcus Simms. The Showboats defense toughened up near the red zone and forced the Panthers to settle for a field goal attempt. 

 

UFL success story Jake Bates was obviously not able to return to the team, since he is now the full time kicker for the Detroit Lions, proving that the UFL is a legitimate step toward the NFL, but that void needed to be filled, and the Panthers turned to power kicker BT Potter out of Clemson to fill the role. Potter nailed his first attempt and the Panthers got out to a quick 3-0 lead. 

 

After a botched kick-off return, coupled with a penalty, the Showboats started their next drive at their own 1 yard line. It was all they could do to get the ball out of the end zone far enough to give their punter some room to get his kick off. 

 

Starting with excellent field position, the Panthers converted on multiple 3rd downs, including a leaping effort from QB Bryce Perkins. On 4th and goal from the 2 yard line, Perkins was able to scramble in on a total effort play that could easily end up on SportsCenter’s top 10 plays. Perkins scrambled into the endzone on a one point conversion and Michigan extended their lead 10-0.

 

After a few unsuccessful drives with former Panthers QB EJ Perry, the Showboats turned to Troy Williams who gave his team a quick burst. While the running game was absolutely non-existent for the Showboats (13 yards in the first half), Williams was able to move the ball down the field and get his team into field goal range. K Matt Coghlin nailed a 50 yarder despite some pretty strong wind, and the Showboats closed the gap 10-3. 

 

Coach Turner said he was going to alternate quarterbacks every drive, for better or worse. It turned out to be worse as on the first play of the next drive, EJ Perry made a poor attempt to throw out of a sack and was picked off by FS Arnold Tarpley. Despite the great field position, the Showboats defense stepped up big and the Panthers could not extend their lead. 

 

Michigan got the ball back with 22 seconds left in the half, and down near their own 14 yard line. They could have easily just taken a knee and gone into the locker room with a seven point lead, but instead they got aggressive and were helped out when QB Danny Etling took a nasty shot to the sternum that was deemed targeting. The Panthers utilized their timeouts well and got in a position to let Potter attempt a 58 yard field goal, but with the strong wind in his face, he missed left by a wide margin, but it shows the aggressive mentality of Coach Nolan, which will no doubt continue for the rest of the year. 

 

The Showboats’ first drive of the second half finally saw them get some success in the running game. However, the Panthers came up with a huge stop on 3rd down and forced Memphis to settle for another field goal, and the Panthers lead was now a slim 10-6. 

 

On the ensuing drive, Michigan was faced with a 4th and inches at the 25 yard line. Instead of taking the 42 yard field goal attempt, they went for it, and once again, the sheer effort of Bryce Perkins came through as he extended his arm just at the last moment to push the ball over the first down line. On the very next play, he executed a play-action pass beautifully and hit a wide open Samson Nacua for a 25 yard touchdown. The one point conversion was  successful and the Panthers extended their lead to 17-6 at the end of the 3rd quarter. 

 

In the fourth quarter, it was clear that Michigan’s strategy was to try to grind the game out and give Memphis as few possessions as possible. They relied heavily on the run game and short, high percentage passes. The Panthers were able to put up another field goal from Potter, and a 20-6 lead seemed like it was going to be all she wrote. 

 

However, Memphis was not about to go down without a fight. The Showboats made a huge fourth down conversion, and finally scored their first touchdown of the game. They attempted a two point conversion but it was unsuccessful.

 

With the score at 20-12, Memphis attempted to get the ball back. In the UFL there are no onside kicks. Instead, a 4th and 12 scenario from the team’s own 28 yard line takes place. Perry threw a perfect ball to his receiver, but Western Michigan alum Keni-H Lovely broke it up. 

 

Michigan took control of the ball, but Memphis still had two time-outs and were able to force Michigan to go for a 50 yard field goal attempt with just under a minute remaining. The kick missed and Memphis had one final shot for a miracle comeback. 

 

The Panthers played conservatively and Memphis took immediate advantage of that by completing a 33 yard pass that set them up near the Panthers’ 20 yard line. It looked like it would be a titanic-level disaster for Michigan, but the Showboats hit the proverbial iceberg when Troy Williams was picked off by S Kai Nacua who took it to the house. The Panthers finished off Memphis and claimed a 26-12 victory. 

 

After the game, we got to talk to Coach Nolan and Kai Nacua. Nolan discussed adding some plays to his team’s extra point repertoire, since that was an area in which Michigan struggled last year. Kai Nacua spoke about the special moment for both him and brother Samson to score a touchdown in the same game; something that has never happened for them before. To make the moment even better, the Nacua’s oldest brother was also attendance to share in their special moment. 

 

Next week, the Panthers (1-0) have their home opener against the defending UFL champion Birmingham Stallions (0-1) on Friday, APril 4 at 8PM EST on Fox. 

 

The Memphis Showboats (0-1) will travel to Washington DC to take on the Defenders (1-0) on Saturday, APril 5 at 8PM EST on Fox.