Panthers Outplayed by Birmingham in 21-12 Home Opener Loss
Detroit — Michigan made things interesting in their 2025 UFL home opener, nearly putting pressure on Birmingham in the final minutes. After cutting the deficit to one score in the fourth quarter, Michigan had a chance to tie the game with a touchdown and extra point.
However, things took a turn when punt returner Devin Moss mishandled the kick, allowing Birmingham to recover in Michigan’s territory. The Stallions capitalized with a short field-goal drive to seal the win.
“It’s tough, but no single play decided the game,” Michigan quarterback Bryce Perkins said, taking responsibility for the loss along with his teammates, not just Moss.
Michigan (1-1) fell in their Ford Field debut, suffering a 21-12 defeat to defending UFL champions Birmingham (1-1). The Panthers struggled offensively, gaining only 252 total yards. Perkins completed 12-of-25 passes for 132 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and added 30 rushing yards. The defense kept them in the game for the first half, allowing just six points, but ultimately couldn’t sustain their performance against the Stallions’ offense.
“We were outplayed in this game,” said Panthers head coach Mike Nolan. “They were better in the return game, and they made the most of their turnovers.”
Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, with Michigan particularly lagging. By halftime, the Panthers had just 63 total yards and had only reached the Stallions’ territory once. Perkins started but was ineffective, completing 4-of-9 passes for 39 yards, while backup Danny Etling didn’t fare much better, finishing 3-of-4 for eight yards. The running game was similarly sluggish, with running backs Nate McCrary, Matthew Colburn II, and Marcus Simms combining for only 22 yards on six carries.
In total, Michigan managed only four first downs, which were nearly matched by the three penalties they committed in the first half, plus a declined delay of game penalty.
The Panthers began the second half with the ball but were immediately dealt a setback when Perkins’ pass was intercepted by Birmingham’s Steven Gilmore. After a lengthy return, the Stallions scored the first touchdown of the game, with Ricky Person Jr. racing for a touchdown, extending their lead to 12-0.
Birmingham later pushed the lead to 18-0, with quarterback Matt Corral connecting with wide receiver Deon Cain on a 52-yard touchdown pass. The play was designed by head coach Skip Holtz to exploit Michigan’s defensive positioning.
“Kind of drew that one up in the dirt a little bit,” Holtz said of the play.
Michigan responded with a touchdown, as Perkins led the offense down the field and connected with Simms for a score. They added a 3-point conversion, but the gap proved too large to close.
Michigan had a chance to narrow the gap earlier, as they reached first-and-goal at the 2-yard line. However, the Birmingham defense stepped up, forcing a two-yard loss and a minimal gain before stopping Michigan on fourth-and-goal, preserving their lead.
“We didn’t win the leverage battle at the line of scrimmage,” Nolan explained. “We didn’t get it done.”
Despite a strong defensive effort that included two interceptions by D.J. Miller, Michigan couldn’t convert their stops into points. The Stallions made the most of their red zone opportunities, scoring a touchdown on just one of their four trips.
“I’m confident we’re a better team than we showed today,” Nolan said. “I’m sure of it.”
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