Michigan Panthers nab USFL playoff berth with 2nd-half rally, 23-20 win over Philadelphia

The Michigan Panthers and the Philadelphia Stars memorably faced off in Denver for the USFL title in the league's inaugural season of 1983. Forty years later, the stakes were a bit lower in the teams' regular-season finales at Ford Field in Detroit, but once again, the Panthers triumphed, and are playoff-bound in Year 2 of the rebooted USFL.

Despite entering Sunday with a 3-6 record, the Panthers still had the ability to advance the postseason with a win Sunday over the Stars, who were 4-5. The Panthers crawled their way back from an early deficit to defeat the Stars, 23-20, earning their first win at Ford Field this season as well as the No. 2 seed in the North Division title game at 8 p.m. June 24 in Canton, Ohio.

Former Brown standout E.J. Perry got the start at quarterback due to usual starter Josh Love being listed as inactive. He threw for 121 yards and finished with 48 yards rushing and the go-ahead touchdown on the ground in the fourth quarter.

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"(I'm) so proud of the team, naturally excited about the victory and excited to go to the playoffs," Panthers head coach Mike Nolan said. "Hopefully we play a couple more weeks. We'll see. One at a time."

For most of the first half, however, it looked like the Stars would take the win and the No. 1 seed in the North. Philadelphia got on the board early as quarterback Case Cookus led the Stars downfield quickly, converting on two third downs before finding wide receiver Terry Wright to his left in the end zone.

Philadelphia found the end zone again just over a minute into the second quarter, but the touchdown was called back due to a pass interference penalty, forcing the Stars to settle for a field goal from kicker Luis Aguilar to push their lead to 10.

After missing a 53-yarder in the first quarter, Panthers kicker Cole Murphy scored the team's first points of the game with a 51-yard field goal in the second, with a drive that started in excellent position thanks to a 55-yard kickoff return from Marcus Simms.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, the Stars answered with a field goal of their own.

It seemed as if the Panthers would finally find the end zone on their next drive but were thwarted once again by the Philadelphia defense and had to settle for another field goal from Murphy to make it a one-score game.

The Stars added on one more touchdown before heading into the locker room at halftime, helped by a roughing-the-passer call on star defensive end Breeland Speaks that extended a drive on third down with 32 seconds left. Cookus then found wide receiver Diondre Overton as he cut between two defenders into the end zone for a 29-yard grab, extending their lead to 20-6.

The Panthers came out hot to start the third quarter, though. Trey Quinn came down with a one-handed 31-yard catch. Michigan still couldn't find the end zone, however, as the drive stalled out at the Philly 15 and Murphy hit a 33-yard field goal to make it 20-9.

The Panthers' fortunes would soon flip with just under five minutes left in the third quarter.

After a disappointing Philadelphia drive, Simms blocked a punt and A.J. Richardson returned it 15 yards for a TD to cut the Panthers' deficit to five and bring some much-needed momentum to their side. They opted for a 2-point conversion to try and make it a three-point game, but the run call went for no gain.

"I just had a feeling because I was getting close the last couple of times I tried to block one," Simms said. "I figured this time I had the right feel for it, so I came off the edge, and once I was free and he didn't touch me, I knew I was gonna block it. I was just so happy when I looked up and saw A.J. run in to the touchdown."

After a missed field goal by the Stars, Perry then went to work on the ground with a 25-yard rush to start the fourth quarter. Three plays later, on first-and-goal from the 6, Perry fumbled the snap, but was able to pick it up and scramble around the right side for a TD and the Panthers' first lead, at 21-20. They opted yet again for the 2-point conversion, but this time were successful as a scrambling Perry threw a lob pass as he was hit to tight end Marcus Baugh.

Two personal fouls were called on Philadelphia's next drive and cornerback Josh Butler was ejected for throwing a punch, leaving the Panthers down a starter. The defense stepped up in his absence though, escaping two straight Stars drives unscathed.

The Panthers will battle it out in the USFL semifinals against the Pittsburgh Maulers, who swept the Panthers in their two regular-season matchups, next Saturday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. On the other side of the bracket, the New Orleans Breakers and Birmingham Stallions will face off for the South Division title on Sunday in Birmingham, Alabama, with the USFL title game set for Canton on July 1.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Panthers head to USFL playoffs with 23-20 win over Stars