Michigan Panthers can't hold on to late lead, lose to New Orleans in OT, 31-27

In their first game without Shea Patterson on the roster, the Michigan Panthers scored their most points all season.

But it wasn't enough as the Panthers lost late Saturday, 31-27, to the New Orleans Breakers in the USFL's first overtime game.

Patterson, a former Michigan football quarterback and the top pick in 2022 USFL draft, was released by the Panthers last week and picked up by the Breakers. He didn't play in Saturday's game, as Kyle Sloter finished 15 of 24 for 182 yards and two touchdowns.

Josh Love, a former San Jose State QB, got his first start for Michigan and was  18-for-37 for 179 yards passing. He played against the Panthers earlier this year as a member of the Pittsburgh Maulers.

[ Shea Patterson won't give up dream: 'I believe I am an NFL quarterback' ]

Michigan (1-6) dominated play at times, especially defensively, and came back from third- and fourth-quarter deficits to take brief leads, but New Oyleans always had answers. Running back Reggie Corbin finished with 108 yards on 13 carries, and kicker Connor Murphy was 4-for-5 on field goal attempts, including a 60-yard make.

New Orleans scored on two two-point attempts in the extra period, while Michigan failed to find the end zone. In USFL overtime, the teams alternate one-play possessions from the 2-yard line and each score is worth two points. Each has the ball a maximum of three times, but if one team takes a 4-0 lead, the game is over.

The Panthers opened the scoring with a first-quarter field goal following a Breakers fumble. But they ceded the lead when New Orleans scored the game's first touchdown in the second quarter.

As the Breakers scored another touchdown in the second frame, Jeff Fisher elected to keep his team in the game by kicking field goals, including the 60-yarder with 3 seconds left in the first half.

New Orleans (5-2) led at halftime, 14-9. The teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter, though Michigan's came on a painstaking 16-play, 67-yard drive that covered more than nine minutes of game time.

Breakers kick returner Taywan Taylor fumbled the resulting kickoff, and the Panthers took over at the New Orleans 31. Corbin ripped off a 22-yard rush to give Michigan a first-and-goal.

A couple fruitless plays followed — plus a flag for defensive pass interference — then Stevie Scott III finished the short drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Love connected with Lance Lenoir Jr. on a two-point conversion to give Michigan a 20-17 lead with 14:20 left in the fourth quarter.

[ The Free Press has started a new digital subscription model. Here's how you can gain access to our most exclusive content. ]

One of the better teams in the league, the Breakers immediately answered. They took the next kick return down to their own 40 and then gained 34 yards on two Jordan Ellis rushes. After a holding penalty, the Breakers broke through with a 33-yard screen pass from Sloter to Anthony Jones, then kicked an extra point.

Trailing 24-20 early in the fourth quarter, Michigan marched toward the goal line on the strength of a mid-field roughing the passer penalty followed by a 29-yard rush by Corbin. USFL fantasy football players nationwide were incensed as another potential Corbin short-yardage touchdown was vultured, this time by Cameron Scarlett. An extra point made the game 27-24 Michigan with 9:23 left.

A couple of punts ensued before Michigan had a chance to extend the lead; Murphy missed a 54-yard field goal at the two-minute warning. New Orleans ran 11 plays in 1:55 and tied the game with a 26-yard field goal as regulation ended.

A bad snap quashed the Panthers first one-play overtime possession, then Sloter completed a pass to a running back in flat for a two-point conversion. Love's next pass was nearly picked off, and Sloter finished the game with a quarterback scramble from a clean pocket.

Michigan scored 24 on May 1 in its lone win on the season, against the Maulers, and put up 25 in a loss to Philadelphia Stars the following week.

The Panthers nabbed a sack and forced two fumbles on the night. Love flashed some touch and timing on a nice 32-yard pass to Devin Ross.

Michigan's next game is at noon Sunday  against Philadelphia. The Panthers almost beat the Stars last month, but former kicker Michael Carrizosa missed a 21-yard field goal at the end of the fourth quarter.

Follow the Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for more news. Tyler Davis can be contacted at tjdavis@freepress.com or on Twitter @TDavisFreep.

Your subscription makes work like this possible. Get exclusive subscriber content and more here.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: USFL: Michigan Panthers lose lead, fall to New Orleans Breakers in OT