Battlehawks quarterback Max Duggan (14) throws a pass during Saturday’s game against the Michigan Panthers at The Dome at America’s Center.Scott Rovak/UFL

In his first start as the new starting quarterback for the Battlehawks, Max Duggan put on a stellar performance in front of 30,406 fans at The Dome at America’s Center. WR Hakeem Butler, the UFL’s Most Valuable Player, scored two touchdown passes in his return from injury, while Duggan recorded two rushing touchdowns to tie his teammate QB Manny Wilkins for the most by a Battlehawks quarterback in a single game. Battlehawk’s Place Kicker Rodrigo Blankenship put his team first on the board on a 44-yard field goal, but the Michigan Panthers responded with a 12-yard touchdown from quarterback Bryce Perkins to Gunnar Oakes and made it 6-3 with the Point After Attempt failed.

Then Battlehawks offense that struggled a week before against the Arlington Renegades scored 14 unanswered points. First, Duggan scored a 1-yard touchdown run after a nine-play drive. Then, Strong Safety Kameron Kelly recorded an interception off Michigan QB Danny Etling for a 37-yard interception return. After completing a pass to tight end Jake Sutherland for 20 yards, Duggan scored his second touchdown with an 8-yard run before halftime. He once again completed a 2-point conversion pass to Jake Sutherland to make it 17-6. It looked like the Battlehawks were on their way to an easy win against the visiting Michigan Panthers after a 28-yard field goal by Blankenship to increase the Battlehawks’ lead to 20-6. But Panthers quarterback Bryce Perkins led his team to 15 unanswered points by first throwing a third-quarter touchdown pass to WR Turner Malik, followed by a 2-point conversion pass to TE Cole Hikutini to make it 20-14. Then after the Panthers defense stopped the Battlehawks offense, Perkins led his team to the red zone and RB Toa Taua scored a 5-yard touchdown run, followed by a 1-point conversion by RB Nate McCrary, to the Panthers a 21-20 lead in the 4th quarter.

Just as the Panthers made their stunning comeback, Max Duggan hit Hakeem Butler on a 67-yard bomb to put the Battlehawks back on top 26-21. But Michigan came back off the mat as Toa Taua scored his second rushing touchdown from 4 yards that put his team ahead 27-26. Then Battlehawks stun the Panthers once again off a trick play when WR Blake Jackson off a reverse play, through a 57-yard touchdown pass to Hakeen Butler to St. Louis back on top 32-27. It was time for the Defense of the Battlehawks to stop Michigan’s comeback, which they did by preventing them from converting on a fourth-down passing attempt that was 21 inches short of the first down. Bryce Perkins was 21-of-25 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers, but while his counterpart, Max Duggan, threw for 124 yards while going 9-12, his 10 carries for 70 yards, 2 touchdowns were the difference in pulling off an important victory for the Battlehawks. Their next game will be Friday against the Arlington Renegades at 7 p.m. CT on May 2 at The Dome at America’s Center.