The nightcap from Detroit featured the 2-0 Michigan Panthers and the New Jersey Generals (1-1) in a North Division showdown. The Panthers got things started on the scoreboard with a Cole Murphy 45-yard field goal on the opening drive. After splitting snaps between De'Andre Johnson and Dakota Prukop last week, Johnson was the man to take the reigns on the QB position in this one. On the opening drive, Johnson connected with Darius Victor on a 51-yard TD pass on a screen caught at the line of scrimmage. Victor had a convoy of 4 blockers ahead of him when he caught the pass and turned upfield, with only 3 Panther defenders near that side of the field. A well-executed play with the perfect result put the Generals ahead 7-3 with 9:09 left in the 1st.
Following a Michigan 3 & out, Johnson opted to use his legs as opposed to his arm, gashing the Panther defense for a 71-yard QB draw to set the Generals up at the Panther 9-yard line. On the following play, Johnson once again called his own number, this time rolling right off of a play-action pass and reaching pay dirt to put the G-Men up 14-3 following another Nick Sciba PAT, which would be the score after 1 quarter of play.
On the opening play of the 2nd quarter, on a 4th & 1 from the Panther 35-yard line, Darius Victor broke through the left side of the line and rumbled down the left sideline for another Generals touchdown. The touchdown run also featured a textbook stiff arm near the 27-yard line by Victor before he rumbled the rest of the way.
After a few possessions with little action, the Panthers were finally able to reach the end zone with 4:44 left in the opening half on a Josh Love pass to Trey Quinn for 28 yards. At the half the score was 21-10.
The Panthers got the scoring started in the 3rd quarter on a 30-yard field goal off the foot of Cole Murphy, closing the gap to 21-13 in favor of the Generals. In the 4th Quarter, the Generals extended their lead on the Panthers with a De'Andre Johnson fake bubble screen to pass to a streaking Alonzo Moore for a 71-yard catch and run down the right sideline for the touchdown. That was all the scoring for this one, with the Generals spoiling the Panthers home opener and catapulting into a 1st place tie with Michigan.
De'Andre Johnson had himself quite an evening in Detroit. (Graphic Credit: New Jersey Generals)
Up Next:
The Generals return to Tom Benson Stadium to again face-off with an undefeated foe. This time, it is the South Division leading (and last undefeated team standing) New Orleans Breakers. The Breakers will bring a potent offensive with a trio of league leaders through 3 weeks of action. The game is scheduled for May 7 with a 3:00 PM kickoff and can be seen on NBC and Peacock.
The New Orleans Breakers feature the league leaders in 3 different offensive categories (Graphic Credit: USFL)
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