In case you missed it on Sunday during all your Mother's Day festivities, former Michigan State football star quarterback Brian Lewerke got his first start in the UFL with the Michigan Panthers. Lewerke, who has never really found his footing in professional football yet, didn't disappoint and help lead his team to a crucial win that clinched a playoff berth.
Lewerke's Panthers traveled to Washington, D.C., to take on the DC Defenders and the Panthers came away with a 22-9 win. Lewerke ended up splitting time with another quarterback, but he had an OK showing throwing the ball completing 5-of-13 passes for 37 yards.
However, his best moment of the game was in the Panther's first possession of the game. The Panthers were backed up all the way to the 6-yard line on their opening drive, but Lewerke led the team on a five-play, 94-yard touchdown drive. The final play of the drive was a seven-yard touchdown run by Lewerke who got his team on the board and in the lead for good.
Starting off strong 💪@brianlewerke14 finds the end zone to get us on the board first! 👏pic.twitter.com/HJRUSmtbGi
— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) May 12, 2024
Lewerke was never really known for being a big runner while at Michigan State, but he was always more than capable to break off a big run when needed. Anyone else remember his 52-yard run against Notre Dame on a designed quarterback sneak in 2017? That is one of the first memories that will always come to my mind when I think about Lewerke at MSU just because it was so unexpected.
Michigan State QB Brian Lewerke had a 52-yard run vs. Notre Dame... on a QB sneak! https://t.co/ZKnj0JBSR0 pic.twitter.com/rJYUpsJOA7
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) September 24, 2017
Lewerke and the Panthers' next game is this Saturday against the Memphis Showboats at Ford Field in Detroit. Lewerke hasn't been announced as the starter yet, but this would be a perfect opportunity to get out and watch some football and see a former Spartan in action in person.