Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
last yr.

Jake Bates Secures Michigan Panthers Victory with Historic 64-Yard Field Goal

In a dramatic UFL opener, kicker Jake Bates, who hadn't made a field goal since high school, delivers a game-winning kick for the Panthers.

Overview

  • Jake Bates, with no college field goal attempts, hits a 64-yard field goal to win the UFL opener for the Michigan Panthers against the St. Louis Battlehawks.
  • The field goal, made twice due to a timeout, is the longest in UFL history and ties for the second-longest in professional football.
  • Bates' journey to the Panthers included stints as a soccer player and kickoff specialist in college, and brief periods with NFL teams.
  • The Panthers' victory, marked by Bates' kick, was the highlight of the team's transition from the USFL to the UFL.
  • The game drew a dedicated crowd of 9,444 fans, highlighting local support and enthusiasm for the new league.