Around the Continent: Roger’s Corner – September 4th, 2014
CEFL (Central European Football League)
Vukvoi Belgrade (Europe #10) capped a grueling yet highly successful season earlier in July, by beating the Ljubjana Silverhawks 27-17 to win their second title of the year. Vukovi reached three championship finals winning two of them. A remarkable achievement.
Czech Republic
The Czech championship ended, as expected last month, with the Prague Black Panthers (Europe #8) taking the title beating the Pnbram Bobcats 40-0. With that, Prague finished a great season with a record of 13-6. They played more games than any other team in Europe.
Denmark
In Denmark four games were on tap. In Group 1 action the Aarhus Tigers continued their winning ways, this week blanking the Esbjerg Hurricanes 48-0. Also in Group 1, the league-leading Copenhagen Towers (Europe #18) handed the Odense Swans a 50-0 thrashing. In Group 2, the division leading Triangle Razorbacks beat Herlev 46-14 and the Sollerod Gold Diggers dismantled the Holbaek Red Devils 46-6.
The Copenhagen Towers (Europe #18) still lead the league at 8-0 and have scored 349 points in eight games while allowing only 32 against (4 points/game!). Aarhus is second in Group 1 at 7-2 with Amager third (3-5). The Triangle Razorbacks extended their lead to 8-1 in Group 2, followed by Sollerod in second (6-3) and Herlev third, at 5-4.
Finland
In Finland, in the final regular season round, the Helsinki Roosters (Europe #12), scored a first half touchdown to take the lead over the Turku Trojans 7-0 and then held on to win 21-10 and secure first place and home field advantage in the Finnish semi-finals this weekend. The Roosters defense played a great game limiting the Trojans offense to a less than 200 yards of total offense. On offense, Roosters running back Jaycen Taylor has returned from injury and scored two touchdowns.
The Butchers also won their last game of regular season and with their 42-21 win over Vantaa TAFT, clinched the fourth playoff spot. Butchers running back RJ Jackson scored three touchdowns on the ground and rushed for 200 yards. The Helsinki 69ers handed the hapless Helsinki Wolverines a 54-12 drubbing after leading 46-12 at halftime. Then the Senaijoki Crocodiles finished off the Indians season with a 40-13 victory.
So the stage is set for this weekend’s semi-final action. On Saturday the Roosters will host the fourth place Butchers and on Sunday the Crocodiles travel to Turku to face the Trojans. The Roosters have beaten the Butchers twice this season handily (57-38 and 47-20). Earlier in August, Turku beat the Crocodiles 37-19 behind the running of Jocques Crawford who had 204 yards rushing and two touchdowns in that game. Read the full story elsewhere on AFI.
France
The Thonon Black Panthers (Europe #15) won the French league in thrilling fashion a month ago. But they lost lost in the semi-finals of the inaugural IFAF Europe Champions League tournament to Vukovi Belgrade 19-7.
