Deon Cain shines in the Birmingham Stallions playoff loss to the Michigan Panthers
Deon Cain shines in the Birmingham Stallions playoff loss to the Michigan Panthers
The UFL playoff semifinals delivered a rare sight on Sunday — a postseason loss for the Birmingham Stallions — but it wasn't due to a lack of effort from former Clemson wideout Deon Cain.
Cain hauled in six receptions for 124 yards in Birmingham's 44-29 loss to the Michigan Panthers, who were powered by another Clemson alum in kicker BT Potter. Potter nailed a 36-yard field goal and has now made 12 of 17 attempts this season, helping send Michigan to the UFL Championship on June 14 in St. Louis (8 p.m., ABC).
Cain, meanwhile, capped off a standout campaign that earned him All-UFL honors. He led the league in receiving yards per game (57.1) and yards per catch (17.7), finishing third in total receiving yards (514). He also ranked second in all-purpose yards (935), thanks to 421 kick return yards. Between spring league stops, Cain has spent time with several NFL teams, including the Eagles, Bills, and Panthers.
Michigan will face the DC Defenders in the title game after DC took down St. Louis 36-18. Former Clemson receiver Cornell Powell played a key role, catching four passes for 57 yards and converting a two-point attempt. Powell led the UFL during the regular season with seven receiving touchdowns.
Also making an impact in the Stallions' loss was Amari Rodgers, who averaged 20.5 yards on four kickoff returns.
The defeat marked Birmingham's first postseason loss since spring football's reboot in 2022, snapping a dominant run that included every USFL title and the inaugural UFL regular season crown.
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Deon Cain shines in the Birmingham Stallions playoff loss to the Michigan Panthers
Deon Cain shines in the Birmingham Stallions playoff loss to the Michigan Panthers The UFL playoff semifinals delivered a rare sight on Sunday — a postseason loss for the Birmingham Stallions — but it wasn't due to a lack of effort from former Clemson wideout Deon Cain. Cain hauled in six receptions for 124 yards in Birmingham's 44-29 loss to the Michigan Panthers, who were powered by another Clemson alum in kicker BT Potter. Potter nailed a 36-yard field goal and has now made 12 of 17 attempts this season, helping send Michigan to the UFL Championship on June 14 in St. Louis (8 p.m., ABC). Cain, meanwhile, capped off a standout campaign that earned him All-UFL honors. He led the league in receiving yards per game (57.1) and yards per catch (17.7), finishing third in total receiving yards (514). He also ranked second in all-purpose yards (935), thanks to 421 kick return yards. Between spring league stops, Cain has spent time with several NFL teams, including the Eagles, Bills, and Panthers. Michigan will face the DC Defenders in the title game after DC took down St. Louis 36-18. Former Clemson receiver Cornell Powell played a key role, catching four passes for 57 yards and converting a two-point attempt. Powell led the UFL during the regular season with seven receiving touchdowns. Also making an impact in the Stallions' loss was Amari Rodgers, who averaged 20.5 yards on four kickoff returns. The defeat marked Birmingham's first postseason loss since spring football's reboot in 2022, snapping a dominant run that included every USFL title and the inaugural UFL regular season crown. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
ESPN signs Dick Vitale to multi-year extension, creates annual event in his honor
ESPN signs Dick Vitale to multi-year extension, creates annual event in his honor Show Caption Hide Caption Dick Vitale talks cancer awareness and Clemson vs Duke basketball game Dick Vitale ESPN tv personality talks cancer awareness and Clemson vs Duke basketball game On his 86th birthday, Dick Vitale got a pair of gifts he won't soon forget. The legendary ESPN college basketball analyst has signed a multi-year contract extension through the 2027-28 season, the network announced on June 9. Additionally, ESPN unveiled the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational, an annual men's college basketball event that will honor the color commentator and former coach. The inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational will feature Duke against Texas on Nov. 4 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. REQUIRED READING: The 2025 NBA draft deadline has passed. Who are the college basketball winners and losers? 'I couldn't believe it when I got the call from ESPN,' Vitale said to ESPN. 'They said, 'we want to have a big game called the Dick Vitale Invitational.' I said, 'are you serious?!' All of the people at ESPN, starting with (ESPN chairman) Jimmy Pitaro, and all of my friends and colleagues have been so great to me especially with my recent battles with cancer. They've been by my side from day one and to do this is unbelievable. Long after I'm gone, to still have a game out there with my name attached to it? Wow, that is truly unbelievable!' Vitale has been with ESPN since 1979, joining as a college basketball analyst shortly after the network went on the air. During that time, he has called over 1,000 games and become synonymous with ESPN's college basketball coverage with his high energy, colorful personality and famous catchphrases. His latest contract will stretch his ESPN tenure to nearly 50 years. Vitale's on-air work has earned him induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. In April, he received the Dean Smith Award, which is given out annually by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association to 'an individual in college basketball who embodies the spirit and values' of the iconic former North Carolina coach. Vitale has been a more infrequent presence on ESPN over the past several years as he has undergone treatment for various forms of cancer. He called his first game in nearly two years in February, when Clemson upset No. 2 Duke. 'Dick is the heart of college basketball, and his kindness, generosity and courage are a constant inspiration to us all,' Pitaro said in a statement. 'Through the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational, we will celebrate him and his profound impact on the sport. We are also thrilled that Dick will remain a signature voice on ESPN through the 2027-28 season.'
Fox Sports
4 hours ago
- Fox Sports
UFL Playoffs By The Numbers: Michigan RB Toa Taua dazzles with hat trick
The 2025 UFL postseason was thrilling, and just two teams remain — the Michigan Panthers and the DC Defenders . The Panthers took down the defending champion Birmingham Stallions in the USFL Conference Championship Game on Sunday, 44-29, followed by the Defenders pulling out a 36-18 win over the powerhouse St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL Conference Championship Game. Here are the numbers to know ahead of the upcoming UFL title game on Saturday: 2: St. Louis finished the regular season with the best record in the league but saw its championship hopes dashed in the conference title game for the second consecutive season. Road teams went 2-for-2 this weekend. 3: After leading the league in rushing touchdowns in the regular season with six, Michigan RB Toa Taua kept it rolling in the playoffs with 85 rushing yards and a season-high three scores in the Panthers' double-digit win in Birmingham. 4: Birmingham's quest for a fourth consecutive spring football title under head coach Skip Holtz — Birmingham had won back-to-back USFL titles in 2022 and 2023 before taking the inaugural UFL crown last year — came to an end on Sunday. The loss also snapped a seven-game winning streak against Michigan that dated back to 2022. 5: The Defenders' defense dominated up front in the upset over the Battlehawks. The Defenders had five sacks and nine tackles for loss in the win, as head coach Blake Williams' group controlled the game from start to finish. 15: While it came in a losing effort, Battlehawks All-UFL linebacker Willie Harvey stuffed the stat sheet against the Defenders with 15 total tackles — the most by any player in a single game this season — and a sack. 24: The Panthers will take on the Defenders in the 2025 UFL Championship Game on Saturday. The two teams met in Week 6 of the regular season, with the Panthers handing the Defenders their worst loss of the year, 38-14, in Detroit. 44: The 44 points scored by Michigan were the most Birmingham has allowed in a UFL game and the second most it has allowed in four years of spring football; the defunct New Orleans Breakers scored 45 against the Stallions in 2023. 73: Michigan and Birmingham's 73 combined points is the most (regular or postseason) in a game in UFL history. 100: St. Louis' offense this season was predicated on its run game. It finished the regular season averaging a league-best 144 rushing yards per game. However, DC was the one team that figured out how to stop it, as it was the only team to hold the Battlehawks under 100 rushing yards in a game. What's more, the Defenders did it twice — in their Week 3 win in St. Louis and the playoff win on Sunday. 272: After sitting out the final three games of the regular season with an ankle injury, Panthers All-UFL QB Bryce Perkins showed no ill effects in the win over Birmingham. He completed 80% of his passes (20 of 25) and had 272 total yards of offense to go with two total touchdowns. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience United Football League recommended Get more from United Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
