By RJ “The Bullish Brahma” Reid
Introduction
There is a certain cat whose brand rose to significant prominence to the point that celebrities would adopt the cat’s image, and their likeness would grace storefronts and merchandise all over the world. In some countries, this cat would become the top-grossing character in the late 1990s. By 2010, this cat brand would be worth $5 billion a year and would be labeled as a global marketing phenomenon. The city of Detroit is fond of cat brands, as they have three teams named after felines. So which cat brand are we talking about here? The Lions? No. The Tigers? Guess again. The Panthers? Not even close. The Panthers do not stand a chance against the cat brand in question. We are talking about, of course, Hello Kitty.
In Week 4 of the United Football League (UFL), the San Antonio Brahmas (2-1) take on the Michigan Panthers (2-1) in San Antonio, Texas. Here’s what you need to know:
When?
Saturday, April 20, 2024 @ 6:00pm CT.
Where?
Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas.
Gameday Weather
The game is obviously being played indoors, but for those interested in tailgating, the weather may not cooperate very much, as the weather report indicates that it should be 50 degrees, cloudy with a 50% chance of rain with 10 mile per hour winds.
History
This is the first matchup between these two teams.
Keys to Victory
The running game will prove to be extremely important. Michigan is 3rd in UFL while San Antonio is 5th. Michigan is gaining an average of 20 yards per game more than San Antonio. Panthers running back Wes Hills 4th in UFL in rushing while leading rusher for the Brahmas, Anthony McFarland is 8th. Other than the Birmingham Stallions, each team is struggling to establish an effective running game.
Since rushing the ball may prove to be difficult, each team may rely on throwing the ball around the field. The Brahmas are 3rd in passing offense, while Michigan is dead last in. Brahmas starting quarterback Chase Garbers is out for the rest of the season with an injury and replacing him is local Quinten Dormady. Dormady is more than an adequate backup and was believed by most fans to be the starting quarterback heading into the season. Under Garbers, San Antonio is 4th in the league in yards per game and 3rd in points scored.
While San Antonio’s offense has been humming, Michigan’s defense has been extremely stingy. They are 3rd in yards allowed. Moving the ball against the Panthers can be difficult, but the Brahmas defense is nothing to sneeze at. The Brahmas are 2nd in the league in yards allowed.
Perhaps the biggest key to victory is San Antonio exploiting the biggest weakness the Panthers have, and that is their tendency to give up sacks. Quarterback EJ Perry has been sacked 8 times, second most in the UFL while San Antonio has the 2nd most sacks in the league. Rushing Perry and getting him rattled often and early will set the tone and not allow him to get comfortable.
Final Thoughts
San Antonio is coming off their first loss of the season and are looking to bounce back. Led by a strong defense and a balanced offensive attack, the Brahmas aim to defend their home turf. Keep an eye on quarterback Quinten Dormady and see how quickly he shakes the rust off. The Panthers are on the prowl as they go on the road for the first time this season. Panthers’ kicker Jake Bates has been exceptional, and their defense has been extremely stout. Quarterback EJ Perry has improved week to week and the Panthers will look to him to lead the charge against San Antonio’s highly ranked defense. The battle in the trenches will be critical. Can the Brahma’s injury plagued offensive line hold up against a fierce Panther’s pass rush? Conversely, will Michigan’s offensive line open running lanes against San Antonio’s stout run defense? Expect a hard-fought, old-school slugfest with both teams hungry for a victory. Pack the Alamodome, San Antonio, and as always, horns forward!