The Generals were able to do it. They are now the leading the Southern division after an ugly win against the Michigan Panthers. The Panthers who were struggling for a win in Week One against the Houston Gamblers now drop to 0-2 as the Generals begin divisional play with a win and are 1-1.

1st Quarter

Generals receive the kickoff and Luis Perez begins as the starter. Generals go 3 and out, but De’Andre Johnson is able to complete a pass to Alonzo Moore for 5 yards. Generals punt to Lance Lenior as the Panthers start from their own 26.

Patterson is able to complete a pass to Marcus Baugh however, Cameron Scarlett and Shea Patterson cannot get anything going and the Panthers punt. Leading tackler Frank Ginda makes a play on the Punt and the Generals begin at their 38.

Darius Victor takes the initial hand off and rumbles for 21 yards. Victor is leaned on again as his second carry he gains another 9 yards. The combination of Darius Victor, Trey Williams and De’Andre Johnson combine for 16 additional rushing and a Braedon Bowman reception led the Generals to a Field Goal for the General by Nick Rose. A couple notes TJ Carter and Kyshonn Tysonn were able to make a great play early in the drive, also Terry Myrick was able to make a big play on 3rd and 4 to force the field goal. Nick Rose is now 1-1, Generals up 3-0.

3-0 Generals 5:25 Remaining in the 1st Quarter

Reggie Corbin’s addition is welcomed however, Patterson continues to be on the run. I think it’s a cardio thing as they continue to lean against the Generals Defensive Linemen. The Panthers Couldn’t take advantage of the neutral zone infraction by the Generals Defensive and are forced to punt.

Perez and Johnson combine for 3 straight completions and a first down. 1st Quarter Ends Generals leading 3-0. 

2nd Quarter New Jersey Generals Lead 3-0

A Perez Incompletion followed by Luis Perez staring down Orion Stewart (6). Stewart pick off the pass. Panthers start at the Generals 22.

Reggie Corbin with two runs of 9 and 7. Cam Scarlett finishes the drive with an untouched four yard TD run his first of the 2022 USFL. Michael Carriozsa misses the extra point. Panther lead 6-3

6-3 Michigan Panthers 13:33 Remaining

The Generals go three and out after Darius Victor and De”andre Johnson can’t overcome a Generals False start. Generals punt to the Panthers 25.

A Stevie Scott rush a Shea Patterson Incompletion lead to 3rd down. Patterson throws a bad pass but Lance Lenior is able to bring it in and get a first down. A Cam Scarlett rush and two incompletions by Patterson leads to a Michigan punt. Carriozsa punts to the NJ 14 and is returned to the NJ 29 by Kavontae Turpin.

A Trey Williams rush and a Luis Perez completion to Darrius Shepard lead to a first down. Two completions by Perez lead to a 3rd and short however Frank Ginda makes a TFL leading to a 4th and 2. Coach Rielly keeps the team out and Luis Perez completes a 4th down pass to TE Woody Brandom and a 1st down. De’Andre Johnson runs another triple option completing the pass to Darrius Shpard and Trey WIlliams rushes for 1st down. Luis Perez comes back in and completes a pass for 7 yards to Alonzo Moore. The Generals continue to switch up QBs as De’andre Johnson rushes for 10 yards and first down. The Generals enter the two-minute warning starting 1st and goal at the 2. Darius Victor gets the ball and is able dive into the endzone(after review), and score his first professional touchdown in the USFL 9-6 Generals. Nick Rose makes the extra point and the Generals lead 10-6.

10-6 New Jersey Generals 1:57 Remaining

Ensuing Kickoff leads to an injury of fan favorite Joey Magnifico, a Panthers Tight End who looks to have his ankle rolled up on. The Panthers tight end is carted off the field and the Panthers go 3 and out. Carriozosa punts 55 yards and the Generals take back over at the 11.

Trey Williams rushes for 11 yards and a first down. The Generals seem to be comfortable with going into the half with the lead as WIlliams and Johnson run out the clock. Generals lead 10-6 at the half. 

Halftime 10-6 New Jersey Generals

3rd Quarter Begins Michigan Panthers Receive the Ball

Panthers receive the kickoff and start at their 25. Two straight rushes, and La’Michael Pettaway completion allow for the Panthers to earn a first down. Panthers continue to spread it out and run a screen pass to Lance Lenior for 6 yards. Cam Scarlett is able to rush for 5 yards and obtain another Panthers first down. On a fresh set of downs Shea Patterson rolls out to the right and misses a wide-open Lance Lenior. Stevie Scott is able to drag Generals for a first down and give Patterson a fresh set of downs. Panthers get their 3rd first down of the drive. On 1st and 10, Patterson receives a bad snap from Center Sean Pollard (Pollards 5th of the year), Patterson though is able to make something out of nothing and complete an 8 yard pass to Marcus Baugh and set up a 2nd and 2. Reggie Corbin and Stevie Scott combine for their 4th first down of the drive. On a 3rd and 7, Shea Patterson throws a tight pass to Devin Ross who drops the pass. Michael Carrizosa comes out to attempt a 39-yard field goal and misses (Paxton Lynch holding). Carrizosa has yet to make a FG or XP this year and the Panthers spoil a 15 play drive.

Luis Perez begins the drive and the Generals are stuffed on back to back plays. Luis Perez avoids the rush and completes a pass to Darrius Shepard but Frank Ginda stops Shepard short of the 1st down. Generals punt and send the Panthers down to their own 15, doing a great job of flipping the field.

Patterson comes back out after his 15 play 56 yard drive, down 4. Cam Scarlett, shows great patient and follows La’Michael Pettaway for 5 yards. Scarlett is able to pick up another 3 yards on second down. Patterson tries his best to do Johnny Manziel impression however is unable to pick up the 3rd down conversion. Carrizosa punts for 43 yards and Generals return man Turpin brings it back for 21 yards however a holding penalty brings it back to the Generals 39.

Johnson gets the Generals out in front with 22-yard play action pass. The Generals continue to use a duel QB system as Luis Perez completes an 11-yard out route to Darius Shepard. The Panthers Defense does a great job defending the read option against De’Andre Johnson as they stop him for a loss however, Luis Perez comes back in the game and completes another pass for 11 yards. This time to Alonzo Moore for a first down. The Generals take the clock down to 0:00 and the Generals start the 4th Quarter still leading 10-6.

4th Quarter 10-6 Generals

Luis Perez completes another pass for 4 yards, but De’Andre Johnson runs another read option for a loss, that is sniffed out by Frank Ginda. Luis Perez delivers a perfect strike to Woody Brandom, but Panthers DB Sean Williams (24) saves a touchdown. Generals kicker Nick Rose attempts a 34 yd field goal but misses. He is now 2/5 on field goals after going 14/14 in the AAF for the Commanders.

Patterson comes out with RB Cam Scarlett the two combine for 6 yards which sets up a 3rd and 4. A poor exchange on the hand off between Patterson and Scarlett leads to a fumble and the Panthers are forced to Punt.

Perez comes out and hand the ball off to Running back Darius Victor. A Sean Williams tackle forces a fumble and the Panthers Terry Myrick recovers. Panthers begin the ball at the NJ 39.

Patterson comes out and starts with a Stevie Scott rush for 3 yards. A patient Reggie Corbin is met by Generals DB DeJuan Neal for a four-yard loss. Patterson gets good protection however, a heave to the end zone is incomplete, and Michael Carrizosa punts for 41 yards and a touchback. Generals take over with 9:36 at the NJ 20.

Trey Williams picks up 10 yards and a first down on the opening play. Another 6-yard rush by Williams, is followed by an NJ timeout. Perez comes out of the timeout and finds Braedon Bowman for a 7-yard gain and a 1st down. A 2 and 12 conversion is nullified by a NJ holding penalty by Alonzo Moore. The Generals are not able to recover and are forced to punt with 4:20 remaining.

The Panthers come out from their own 12 and Patterson is able to find Cameron Scarlett for an 8 yard gain and down conversion. De’Vante Bausby is able to make a great play on 1st down defending a Shea Patterson pass intended for Lance Lenior. Patterson is unable to complete any more passes and the Panthers punt pinning the Generals at their 26.

The Generals attempt to milk this clock with 2:40 left. The Panther calls two consecutive time outs, and De’Andre Johnson comes out on 3rd and 8. The Panther defense is able to hold tight giving Shea Patterson one more opportunity however, he’ll have to do it with two minutes left.

The Panthers start off their drive with a block in the back penalty. Patterson comes out on their 20 has his first pass swatted at the line by Defensive Linemen Kalani Vakameilalo. Patterson’s 2nd down and 3rd is equally unsuccessfully resulting in an incomplete pass and a sack. Both times Patterson is flushed out of the pocket with limited time to do anything. On 4th and 20, Patterson dazzles and dances and is able to find Cameron Scarlett for a 22-yard first down reception. A Generals lineman goes down with an injury and the Panthers start a fresh set of downs from their own their own 32. Another 3-man rush sent by the Generals allows Patterson to find Marcus Baugh for 27 yards. A Lance Lenior 7-yard reception sets the Panthers up for a 2nd and 3. Panthers finds Devin Ross for an 18-yard gain and a final opportunity from the NJ 16. Patterson is not able to link up with Lance Lenior on the final play and the Panthers lose 10-6.

Final 10-6 New Jersey Generals (1-1) Defeat the Michigan Panthers

Moving Forward

The Panthers continue to start off slow, and not be able to take advantage of good field position. The special teams continue to leave points on the bored as even though the kicking balls were introduced Michael Carrizosa left four points on the field. Next week the Panthers take on the Maulers as Jeff Fishers crew still searches for their first win.

The Generals two QB system to have worked this week. Even though it wasn’t the sexiest approach to victory Luis Perez and De”andre Johnson were able to manufacture and string together enough plays and win the game. Generals’ kicker Nick Rose continued to miss kicks as well and is now 2/5 however, the defense was able to pick up the Generals special teams. The Generals face the Stars next week and go into Week 3 first in the Northern Division,