Birmingham Stallions vs. Michigan Panthers

Stallions DE Taco Charlton (54) - theufl.com/teams

Week 2 of the UFL was just exciting as Week 1.

We had a special announcement before the games were played.

U.S. Army Partners with the UFL

On April 6, 2024, The UFL officially announced a partnership with the US Army in a classy move by both organizations.

If you watched the games this past weekend, all teams were wearing US Army logos on their jerseys. They were also displaying their US Army logo on the fifty-yard line at all UFL stadiums.

This represents two great partnerships between two great organizations to reach new diverse audiences everywhere, to show that we are all proud to be Americans.

This includes all eight teams in the UFL.

Together they will also join in on leadership development, awareness of the opportunities that the Army and UFL can offer young leaders and athletes to engage in their futures, and will host programs together to bring awareness to recruit the next generation of leaders in local UFL markets.

Birmingham Stallions at Michigan Panthers

The Sunday games began with the Birmingham Stallions taking on the upstart Michigan Panthers. The Stallions are still being the Stallions.

The Panthers, however, have an unbelievable kicking story that is as good as his leg.

Stallions Win, but Panthers Kicker Wins More Fans Over

The Stallions won 20-13 on a late game-ending sack by DE Taco Charlton. Michigan kicker Jake Bates, however, kept winning over the hearts of Panthers and UFL fans, everywhere.

After drilling a game-winning 64-yard field goal in week one, he came back in week two to surprise us again with his big leg.

Bates nailed two field goals from 62 and 53 yards this week.

The Panthers strong-legged kicker hadn’t attempted a meaningful field goal since high school before the season.

Now, he has kicked three field goals in two weeks of the 2024 UFL season, including a game-winner that went viral.

After being cut from the Houston Texans in the 2023 preseason, Bates knew there was a will and a way to make it back to the NFL. The UFL is his one shot to get back in. Now, he’s an overnight celebrity.

Several NFL teams are inquiring about him including the hometown Detroit Lions. Pat McAfee of ESPN even interviewed him on the Pat McAfee show.

To catch the highlights of the Houston Roughnecks vs. DC Defenders, please check out my talented UFL co-writer, Miss Julie Miller’s article here.