Helsinki Roosters dominate Uppsala 86ers in Sweden to advance to NEFL final
The Finnish champion Helsinki Roosters continued where they left off in Northern European Football League play downing the Uppsala 86ers 48-30 making it the second win over Uppsala in three weeks. The Roosters won the first game in the home and home series 41-27 in Helsinki.
Roosters quarterback Brandon Connette was named game MVP after throwing for 389 yards and seven touchdowns on 26 of 47 passing. Wide receiver Bernard Luster caught nine passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns while Tim Thomas also caught two and Alexander Wasiljeff, Robin Drockila and Karri Pajarinen caught one each.
Uppsala quarterback Kieran McDonagh completed 24 of 41 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game in the fourth quarter. Running back Victor St Pierre Laviolette rushed for 135 yards and one touchdown for the 86ers.
Roosters WR Bernard Luster on his way to one of two TDs
The two teams traded touchdowns in the wild first quarter which ended 15-14 for Helsinki. But then the Roosters scored two more touchdowns on the second quarter to take a 29-14 lead at the half and increased it to 35-14 early in the third before Uppsala woke up and scored again to close the gap to 35-22.
But seven points was as close as Uppsala came. McDonagh suffered a shoulder injury and was replaced by Fabian Söderberg early in the fourth while Connette was having a great game and threw two more touchdown passes. Laviolette did score on a spectacular 98 yard run but to no avail.
With the win, Helsinki wins the East conference and advances to the first ever Northern European Football League title game where they will face either the London Warriors or Carlstad Crusaders from Sweden. The Warriors and Crusaders will face each other May 6 to decide the winner of the West conference.
