Panthers slide past Showboats on late rushing TD

Matthew Colburn II rushed for a 3-yard touchdown to break a tie with 7:31 left in regulation as the Michigan Panthers defeated the Memphis Showboats 24-18 on Saturday in Detroit.

Colburn put Michigan's offense on his back, rushing for 93 yards and a pair of scores on 24 carries. Brian Lewerke and Bryce Perkins combined to complete 13 of 20 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers (6-2).

Case Cookus threw for 179 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 10-of-16 passing for Memphis (1-7). The Showboats amassed just 40 yards on the ground, doing so on 16 carries.

It looked like Michigan was going to run away with the game when Perkins found Devin Gray for a 50-yard touchdown with 35 seconds left in the first half, making it 18-6 Panthers.

But Matt Coghlin booted a 55-yard field goal as time expired in the half, and he added a 37-yarder early in the fourth quarter to tie things at 18-all. A 14-yard scoring strike from Josh Love to Daewood Davis also helped Memphis get back into the game.