Pat McAfee left dumbfounded by Jake Bates’ viral 64-yard game-winning field goal against Battlehawks in UFL: “HOLY SH*T”

Jake Bates, the kicker for the Michigan Panthers, could easily be described as one of the top performers during the first week of the United Football League’s (UFL) season.

During the game against the St. Louis Battlehawks on Saturday, he made a significant impact by hitting a 64-yard field goal with only three seconds remaining. The closely contested game was filled with numerous touchdowns and conversions, making his field goal even more crucial.

During his appearance on X, Pat McAfee expressed his admiration, joining others who were also impressed.

Bates stated after the game:

“I prepared for this moment. I was ready. When you have a lot of faith in your guys, man, nothing is (impossible with) God. He is risen. Easter weekend, man. It’s a really special feeling.”

He subsequently recounted the story behind the play (as reported by the Detroit Free Press):

“Before they kicked off, I went up to (quarterback) E.J. (Perry), and I don’t know if he realized it because he was pretty locked in, and told him to get it to the 45 and I’ll get it there. The first one, I hit a good ball, but that’s why you practice so hard so every kick can be the same.”

Reactions to Jake Bates’ Performance and Panthers’ Victory in UFL Opener

Despite a hard-fought effort, Jake Bakes and the Michigan Panthers faced difficulties in securing their victory. EJ Perry (12/24 passes for 176 yards), their starting quarterback for the game, initially faced challenges with two interceptions, but a fortunate face mask penalty prevented a lost fumble.

Despite this, he also managed to score the team’s only two touchdowns. Following the game, head coach Mike Nolan expressed conflicting emotions about his quarterback:

“I thought he was trying too hard, like I said, early in the game. Then he settled down and did what he always does ― he finds a way to win the football game. I believe he’s just going to get better and better with the players that he plays with around him.”

Bates noted that the atmosphere was robust, with a total of 9,444 spectators present.

“It was really cool to be in this stadium — it’s a beautiful stadium. I thought the fan turnout was great. They were great, they were active the whole game and got loud when they needed to get loud. They were great, gave us a big advantage.”

The Panthers’ upcoming game will be against the current USFL title holders, the Birmingham Stallions, on April 7.