Around the Continent – Week of September 25th, 2014
Championships and German Playoffs rule
[su_dropcap]T[/su_dropcap]British American Football championship game – BritBowl XXXVI – was a defensive struggle that no one saw coming as the high scoring London Warriors (AFI Europe #20) eked out a 10-8 bitter, down-to-the-nails victory over the equally high-scoring London Blitz to defend their title.
Two weeks ago, the Helsinki Roosters (AFI Europe #9) defended their Finnish title beating the Turku Trojans 21-7 in Maple Bowl XXXV thus claiming two championships in 2014. They also won the IFAF Europe Champions League.
Rooster looking for open field
The Moscow Patriots took back their Russian title, downing the Astrakhan Gladiators 27-12 in Moscow last weekend.
The German quarterfinals saw the two favorites move on as Braunschweig (AFI Europe #1) defeated Munich 69-28, while the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns (AFI Europe #4) manhandled Kiel 50-24. The Dresden Monarchs (AFI Europe #3) easily dispatched Marburg while in Stuttgart, the Cologne Falcons (AFI Europe #7) outlasted the Scorpions 33-28.
The semifinals this weekend will see the Lions take on Cologne while Schwabisch Hall will face the powerful Dresden Monarchs.
In Denmark, the semifinal opponents have been decided. In the wildcard playoffs, the Aarhus tigers demolished the Amager Demons 52-6, while the Gold Diggers blanked Herlev 27-0.
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 (Europe #2) and the Swarco Raiders (Europe #4) 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 (Europe #10) 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 (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, the wild card playoffs decided the final two teams in the Danish semifinals. The Sollerod Gold Diggers blanked the Herlev Rebels 27-0 while the Aarhus Tigers demolished the Amager Demons 52-6.
Gold Diggers defense
With that two old foes will play each other in one semifinal as the Copenhagen Towers (AFI Europe #16) will take on the Sollerod Gold Diggers. In the other, the Triangle Razorbacks face the Aarhus Tigers.
During the regular season, the Towers had no trouble defeating the Gold Diggers 26-0. The Triangle Razorbacks took care of the Tigers 42-7 in August.
Neither semifinal game will be streamed.
The Danish championship – the 25th Mermaid Bowl – will take place October 11.
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 (Europe #15) 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.
