This week the (3-5) Michigan Panthers lost a close contest to the (5-3) New Orleans Breakers 24-20, on a failed Hail Mary attempt by QB, Josh Love. Despite this, they are still in second place and must defeat the (2-6) Pittsburgh Maulers in order to stay in second place in their division.

With only two weeks left in the USFL regular season, it is starting to get down to crunch time for the teams looking to make the play-offs. The top two teams in each division go to the play-offs.

With that out of the way, here are the players who stood out this past week and have earned the USFL Players of the Week.

USFL Players of the Week: Week 8

Offensive Player of the Week: New Orleans Breakers (WR) Johnnie Dixon

Dixon was the man with the plan for the Breakers offense this week. He carved up the Michigan Panthers secondary like a pumpkin this week with nine catches for 136-yards and two touchdowns. The fearless receiver was responsible for helping the offense move all the way down the field.

At 5’11”, 198 lbs., Dixon started the contest out like a turtle with just one catch in the first quarter. He slowly shifted into a Subaru Impreza in the second quarter, making a 9-yard catch on second and 19 which led to a first down on the next play. Six plays after, McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw a strike to the receiver for six.

He then shifted into a Corvette, as his next two catches went for a 20 yard gain, and then for a 36-yard touchdown to put the Breakers up 21-0 at halftime.

Dixon finished the game with 136 yards receiving and two TD’s. What the committee liked about selecting him this week was his progression from starting at low gear and shifting all the way into high gear at the end of the game.

If he keeps playing this way towards the end of the season, look for NFL teams and coaches to possibly give him camp invites.

As Chuck Berry would say, “Johnnie be Goode.”

 

Defensive Player of the Week: Michigan Panthers (LB) Frank Ginda

Their secondary was toasted by New Orleans Breakers wide receiver and fellow USFL Offensive Player of the Week: Week 8, Johnnie Dixon.  The Michigan Panther’s front 7 played well enough to stay in the game.

At 6’0″, 235 lbs., Linebacker Frank Ginda had 11 tackles, (eight by himself) two of which were for a loss, with a pick and a pass broken-up.

He was also unstoppable in holding the Breakers to just 43 yards on the ground on 28 carriers, with the longest run only being six-yards.

The most prominent play by Ginda was on the Breakers’ first possession of the second half. The Panthers kicked a field goal to cut the lead to 21-10 at halftime.

Breakers quarterback Bethel-Thompson hurled a ball that bounced off the hands of a receiver and Ginda secured it for a pick.

While Ginda’s play wasn’t enough for a Panthers victory, it was enough to earn these honorable comments from head coach, Mike Nolan.

“Frank’s a very good football player,” he said. “He’s a very intelligent football player. I think he’s good. He’s got good ability. He’s extremely smart and knows what to anticipate. He seems to be around the ball, which good players always are around the ball. That’s what Frank is.”

Ginda has now won Defensive Player of the Week this year three times. This is the most any player has earned, since the reboot of the USFL last year in 2022. Congratulations to Frank.

 

Special Teams Player of the Week: Memphis Showboats (K) Alex Kessman

At 6’3″, 190 lbs., Kessman had a big leg to go with his big game this week as the Memphis Showboats squeaked out a nine point win over the struggling New Jersey Generals 25-16.

The win extends the winning streak to five for the Showboats. Kessman had 19 of his team 25 points and was a perfect 6-6 on his field goals and made one extra point.

His furthest kick was from 38 yards, in a perfect weather conditioned, Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Sunday.

What mattered the most were the kicks that counted in the biggest moments of the game. Three of Kessman’s field goals were in the fourth quarter, which gave his team a safe cushion to hold off a late comeback from the Generals.

 

For another USFL Story, please check out:

USFL Players of the Week: Week 7