Eric Williams
NFL Reporter
All good issues should inevitably come to an finish, and that is by no means been more true for the Birmingham Stallions. After three consecutive spring soccer championships, Skip Holtz’s squad is out of the operating for the 2025 UFL title after falling 44-29 to the Michigan Panthers within the USFL Convention Championship Sport at Protecting Stadium on Sunday.
“It’s onerous to lose, however it’s with nice respect that I say congratulations to Michigan,” Holtz mentioned. “It’s with nice pleasure that I say that I’ve actually loved teaching this soccer staff and [watching] what this soccer staff has been capable of accomplish.”
Sunday’s win marked the primary time in eight conferences that Panthers head coach Mike Nolan earned a win in a head-to-head matchup with Holtz. Regardless that his staff obtained the win, Nolan mentioned issues are removed from completed. “There’s nonetheless work to be finished,” he mentioned. “Our soccer staff is aware of that. We’re excited to have one other week to play.”
The Panthers will face the DC Defenders — who dominated the St. Louis Battlehawks by double digits, 36-18, within the XFL Convention Championship Sport at The Dome at America’s Heart on Sunday — in Saturday’s title sport.
“We simply didn’t present up once we wanted to indicate up,” Battlehawks head coach Anthony Becht mentioned about his staff’s loss after six consecutive wins to complete out the common season. “DC actually put it on us in all phases.”
Right here’s a take a look at different storylines from convention championship weekend:
The Panthers entered Sunday’s USFL Convention title sport because the second-leading speeding staff within the league, averaging 127 speeding yards a contest, and continued to say their dominance on the bottom in a decisive win over the Stallions, totaling 144 speeding yards. Taua was the catalyst, ending with 85 yards and three landing runs.
Taua rightly gave credit score to the Michigan offensive line, calling it “an instance of resiliency,” as he routinely broke into the second stage of Birmingham’s protection with out being touched.
“When you possibly can simply stroll right into a landing untouched, that’s no person however them (the O-line),” he mentioned. “I’ve simply obtained to not be blind and see it. It was an awesome day collectively as an offense.”
In his first motion since lacking three video games as a consequence of an ankle harm, QB Bryce Perkins accomplished 20 of 25 passes for 238 yards, one landing and no interceptions. Perkins additionally rushed for 34 yards and a rating.
Most significantly, Michigan completed with no turnovers, whereas Birmingham coughed up the ball twice — a 25-yard pick-six by Michigan security Kai Nacua and misplaced a fumble.
Michigan Panthers vs. Birmingham Stallions Highlights | UFL
Battlehawks haven’t any reply for Jordan Ta’amu & Co.
Regardless of being well-rested and ready, Becht acknowledged his staff was dominated in all aspects of the sport. The Battlehawks went into final week’s contest figuring out they needed to decelerate Defenders QB Ta’amu. Nonetheless, they had been by no means ready to take action. The Ole Miss product went 18-for-26 for 204 yards, highlighted by a 38-yard landing to receiver Seth Williams halfway by way of the primary quarter to present the Defenders a lead that they’d by no means relinquish.
“He actually got here out and executed on all cylinders,” Becht mentioned about Ta’amu. “He’s a veteran on this league. He’s nonetheless younger. Only a hell of a efficiency by him.”
Ta’amu’s solely blemish was a pick-six within the first half — his first interception in 128 passing makes an attempt.
The Defenders had been equally efficient at transferring the ball on the bottom, as standout operating again Deon Jackson rushed for 116 yards and two scores on 21 carries. The Defenders completed with 388 yards of complete offense, scored on seven of 10 possessions and went 7-for-11 (63.6%) on third down.
DC Defenders vs. St. Louis Battlehawks Highlights | UFL
The Stallions by no means discovered any actual consistency at an important place on the sector this season, which is without doubt one of the greatest causes they will be watching the championship sport from their sofa for the primary time in 4 years.
Holtz used 5 completely different gamers at quarterback and none began greater than three video games. Though Smith had performed effectively coming into the USFL title sport, Holtz changed the Louisiana Tech product after he threw a pick-six that put Birmingham down 20-6 late within the second quarter.
“[After the interception], I simply mentioned, ‘ what? We want a lift. We want a spark,’” Holtz mentioned. “I put Matt in, and I assumed he did job of getting us again within the soccer sport.”
Corral had not performed since mid-April as a consequence of an belly harm. He went 12-for-25 for 147 yards and two scores, however he additionally threw an interception and misplaced a fumble. Smith went 4-for-10 passes for 102 yards, one landing and an interception earlier than he was changed.
Deon Cain led the Stallions with six receptions for 124 yards. Birmingham completed with simply 61 yards on the bottom.
Defenders overcome adversity beneath Shannon Harris’ management
With head coach Reggie Barlow and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams leaving at first of the season, interim head coach Shannon Harris did a masterful job of main his squad to the title sport for the primary time in staff historical past.
The Defenders’ offense rolled to 36 factors towards the top-ranked protection within the league on the highway in a hostile atmosphere at St. Louis. Greg Williams’ son Blake Williams, serving because the defensive coordinator for the Defenders, held St. Louis to 240 yards and a 22.2% conversion fee on third down. The Defenders additionally completed with 5 sacks.
“It got here right down to us, we and ours — and that has been our motto your entire season,” Harris mentioned. “We’re going to do that collectively. It’s not a one-man present on any of these things. As a head coach, you get reward for it and also you get a report placed on you, however on the finish of the day, it’s us. We and ours.”
First take a look at 2025 UFL title sport: Panthers vs. Defenders
These two groups will meet for the second time this season. The Panthers simply dealt with the Defenders in Week 6 of the common season at Ford Area, 38-16. In that sport, the Panthers rolled up 233 yards on the bottom, together with 99 yards from Taua and 90 from Perkins. Ta’amu went 19-for-36 passing for 259 yards and two touchdowns. Ending with 9 receptions for 144 yards and a landing, Chris Rowland was Ta’amu’s favourite goal.
If the Defenders need a shot at successful this one, nevertheless, they need to do a greater job of stopping the run.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, protecting the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Observe him at @eric_d_williams.
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