Around the Continent – Week of October 15th
Two Major Championships Decided!
[su_dropcap]T[/su_dropcap]German championship – German Bowl XXXVI – was an exciting game – for one quarter – but after that, the defending champion Braunschweig New Yorker Lions, methodically dismantled the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, overwhelming them 47-9 at L.-Jahn-Sportpark Stadium in Berlin. A crowd of almost 13,000 looked on, along with a European wide television audience, to witness the efficiency and power of the Lions.
David McCants scored three touchdowns while his RAM trio colleague Michael Andrew added two more rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Casey Therriault scored a sixth touchdown on the ground and threw for touchdown number seven to Anthony Dable. Therriault, who was named game MVP, was devastating shredding the Unicorn defense sometimes at will.
In Denmark, the Copenhagen Towers defended their title by beating the Aarhus Tigers 26-9. This was Towers long-time quarterback JR Artozqui’s final game so it was fitting he was named Mermaid Bowl MVP.
These were the last two major championships of 2014 although both Hungary and the Ukraine are still playing and we will try to keep track of the games there as well as we can. Also, the Balkan League with teams from Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia kicks off in October. We will do our utmost to cover those as well.
Here then is a brief summary of what has happened around the continent in 2014.
Austria
The Austrian final in July, Austrian Bowl XXX, was a thriller for the ages as the Vienna Vikings (AFI Europe #2) and the Swarco Raiders (AFI Europe #3) battled to a 17-17 tie in regulation time. Vienna scored the only touchdown in overtime to win its third straight Austrian title 24-17. Read the game recap here.
Belgium
Belgian Bowl XXVII saw a new champion crowned in July as the Ghent Gators made no mistake handing the defending champion the Brussels Tigers a 38-0 pummeling. This was the first ever title win for the Gators and they did it on their first try. Read the game recap HERE!
CEFL (Central European Football League)
Vukvoi Belgrade (AFI Europe #12) capped a grueling yet highly successful season 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 (AFI Europe #11) 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, the league number one Copenhagen Towers (AFI Europe #16) faced the only opponent to have beaten them this season, the Aarhus Tigers in the 25th Mermaid Bowl and beat them 26-9. JR Artozqui threw for three touchdowns, two to Oliver Wenzel and was named Game MVP. Read the recap here.
Finland
In Finland, the Helsinki Roosters took a 7-0 lead behind the running of Jaycen Taylor (championship MVP) and then cruised to a 21-7 victory over the number two team in Finland , the Turku Trojans to win Maple Bowl XXXV for the third year in a row.
See the complete recap here!
France
The Thonon Black Panthers (AFI Europe #13) won the French league in thrilling fashion two months ago. But they lost lost in the semi-finals of the inaugural IFAF Europe Champions League tournament to Vukovi Belgrade 19-7.