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Danny Etling, making his first start since Week 3, tossed three touchdown passes as the Michigan Panthers defeated the host Houston Roughnecks 30-18 on Saturday to clinch a spot in the USFL Conference championship game.

Etling, who completed 14 of 22 passes for 167 yards, fired scoring tosses of five, one and 35 yards to stake Michigan (6-2) to a 21-12 lead with 6:31 left in the third quarter.

Three plays later, Houston signalcaller Jalan McClendon was intercepted by Keni-H Lovely at the Michigan 45. Lovely returned the gift for a touchdown that gave the Panthers a 27-12 lead going into the fourth.

McClendon otherwise had a big day, completing 30 of 50 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns. Justin Hall had 11 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown for Houston (3-5).

Michigan won despite being outgained 441-254 and now leads Birmingham by one game in the USFL Conference standings thanks to the Stallions’ 29-28 loss to St. Louis. Regardless of what happens during the last two weeks of the regular season, Michigan and Birmingham will meet in the USFL Conference title game June 8 on the Stallions’ home field for the right to meet the UFL Conference winner for the overall title.

–Field Level Media