DETROIT MICHIGAN — Unfortunately, the Arlington Renegades found a way to lose another heartbreaking game, this time at the hand of the Michigan Panthers, losing on a last-second field goal as time expired. The final was 28-27 and the game was tight pretty much the entire way with neither team holding more than an eight point lead. There were five lead changes, including three in the final 3:49 alone, and the Panthers just happened to have the ball last.
Panthers K, Jake Bates, made news earlier this year with him hitting a 64-yard game-winning field goal as time expired in week 1 vs the St. Louis Battlehawks. The former college soccer player made his first ever in-game field goal attempt in his football career a memorable one. Today, he knocked in a 60-yard field goal for the Panthers right before half, and ended the game with a 42-yard kick.
In my preview, I mentioned the run defense for Arlington would be key and they held the Panthers run game, which averaged 111 yards per game, to only 94 yards on the ground. The problem was that Panther QB Danny Etling went over 200 yards through the air and the Renegades defense didn’t do much to disrupt him. On the flip side, Arlington QB Luis Perez fell short of his average passing day, only throwing for a pedestrian 180 yards and 1 TD. The Renegades only had two pass plays that were explosive (15 yards or more) with two. For the Panthers, they had five explosive plays through the air, and that was the difference in the game essentially.
The Renegades need the Defenders to beat the Brahmas Sunday afternoon to stay mathematically alive for the playoffs. A Brahmas win, all but seals the fate for the Renegades postseason hopes in 2024. A season where they are coming off a championship, no matter how you slice it, has been a disappointment.
The Renegades come back home to face the Memphis Showboats at home May 11th at 12PM.
