Battlehawks rally with trick play to beat Panthers

Blake Jackson threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to fellow receiver Hakeem Butler on a trick play to lift the host St. Louis Battlehawks over the Michigan Panthers 32-27 on Saturday night.

The UFL game featured five lead changes as St. Louis (3-2) regained the advantage for the last time with 6:12 remaining in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Max Duggan handed off in the backfield to Jackson, who found Butler sprinting down the right sideline and completed his lone pass. The two-point conversion pass failed, leaving the final five-point difference.

Butler had two catches for 124 yards, with touchdowns of 67 and 57 yards. Duggan was 9-of-12 passing for 124 yards, including the 67-yarder, and he rushed 10 times for 70 yards and touchdowns of 1 and 8 yards.

Michigan (3-2) was led by quarterback Bryce Perkins, who was 21 of 25 for 235 yards and touchdowns to Malik Turner (20 yards) and Gunnar Oakes (12 yards). Siaosi Mariner caught six passes for 111 yards in a losing cause. Toa Taua rushed 15 times for 74 yards and TDs of 5 and 4 yards.

The Battlehawks blew leads of 3-0, 20-6 and 26-21, as Michigan went up 21-20 and 27-26 before St. Louis rallied.