The Michigan Panthers were knocked out of the UFL playoff semifinals by the Birmingham Stallions, who completed a second-half rally to beat Michigan, 31-18, for the second straight week.

The Panthers jumped out to an early two-possession lead in the second quarter but were dominated from then on. The Stallions scored 28 unanswered points, which included a pick-six in the third quarter off Danny Etling to tie the game at 18, then scored two straight touchdowns in the fourth quarter to end the Panthers' season.

"We had plenty of opportunities to win the football game," Panthers head coach Mike Nolan said. "We just didn't get in the end zone like we should have and we turned the ball over."

Michigan held a six-point lead at halftime, but Birmingham entered the fourth quarter with the game tied after a back-and-forth third quarter featuring six turnovers. The Stallions, who replaced Adrian Martinez at quarterback with Matt Corral, pulled away with a touchdown to go up 24-18, then a blocked field goal after Michigan drove into scoring range, and finally shut the door with another touchdown. Corral finished 9 of 11 for 120 yards and two touchdowns after replacing Martinez with 20 minutes left.

Michigan's offense slowed to a halt after scoring on the first five possessions of the game, four of which were Jake Bates field goals, to go up 18-3. They didn't score again, going scoreless in the final 35 minutes while turning the ball over four times, all from Etling, who finished with 18 completions on 29 attempts with 182 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions and a fumble. Bates was 4 of 6 on field goals, missing wide left and having one kick blocked.

The Panthers finish the season with a 7-4 record, the best mark in the three-year run in its return in the USFL and UFL. Three of the four losses this season were to the Stallions, who advanced to their third straight championship dating back to the USFL, where they were two-time winners.

"The team hung in there all the time and continued to play hard," Nolan said. "I couldn't be more proud of our guys. I thought they did an outstanding job the entire football season."

Turnovers dominate a chaotic third quarter

Someone must've greased the footballs during halftime after Michigan entered the locker room up 18-12.

There were six turnovers in the third quarter, three by each team, including a pick-six.

"They played well in the second half, better than we did," Nolan said. "That's what made the difference."

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Michigan's Adonis Alexander won a battle for a jump ball on a deep shot towards Michigan's end zone and came down with an interception. But Etling fumbled on a blindside sack from Dondrea Tillman and gave the ball back at the Birmingham 47-yard line. Then Martinez coughed the ball back on a scramble on a tackle from Walter Palmore in a chaotic sequence. Michigan and Birmingham then traded punts in a moment of calm, but Etling then threw an interception on an overthrown ball over the middle. Corral took over for Martinez, but immediately threw a pick on a tipped pass to give Michigan the ball back.

Etling couldn't stop the errors. His next pass was directly into the chest of Birmingham's Daniel Islom for an easy interception. Islom returned the pick for a touchdown down the home sideline, tying the game at 18.

"I'm sure the turnovers in the second half frustrated him as much as it frustrated all of us," Nolan said. "We were going back and forth with the turnovers, as you all well know, and they came out on top in the end."

Panthers control early but settle for kicks

Michigan led 18-12 at halftime, but couldn't fully capitalize on the early opportunities. The Panthers scored on five of their six drives but had to settle for four field goals and missed a fifth attempt on the final drive of the half.

"I wish we had turned all those field goals into six points, touchdowns," Nolan said. "It would have made a difference for us."

Michigan scored an opening drive touchdown for the second straight week on a 35-yard catch-and-run from Siaosi Mariner on a slant over the middle, and the defense followed up by forcing a turnover on downs in Birmingham territory to continue the strong start. Michigan had to settle for a 53-yard field goal after the drive stalled in three plays to make it 9-0. Bates added a second field goal the next drive from 42 yards to give Michigan a 12-0 lead.

Birmingham's offense woke up and drove 65 yards to the Michigan 5-yard line, but had to have Chris Blewitt kick a chip shot after Michigan cornerback Keith Gipson broke up a pass to stop a touchdown. That was answered with a Bates kick from 39 yards on the next drive to keep it a 12-point margin at 15-3. Noah Dawkins got the ball right back for Michigan by strip-sacking Martinez on a nickel blitz the next possession, but the team again settled for a field goal after starting from the Birmingham 14 when three straight runs up the middle went nowhere.

"It's about points and we were getting threes instead of sixes," Nolan said. "And that just isn't going to be good enough against a good football team like the Stallions."

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Panthers lose to Birmingham Stallions in UFL playoffs, 31-18