Around the Continent – Week of September 25th, 2014
Germany
Playoffs: Quarterfinals
The German quarterfinals did not produce any surprises as the favorites did their jobs. The Braunschweig New Yorker Lions, clear favorites for the German title, totally outclassed the Munich Cowboys in Braunschweig, 69-28. David McCants rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns and Michael Andrew added another 75 yards on the ground and two tallies. But despite the score Munich threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns. Admittedly, most of that happened in the second half when the game was for all intents and purposes over. Nevertheless, the Cowboys may have exposed a weakness in the Lions defense.
Dresden’s swarming defense
The Schwabisch Hall Unicorns made a statement of sorts. By outclassing Kiel (AFI Europe #11) 50-24 they told the rest of the German league that they are for real. The general consensus is that the North is far stronger but the Unicorns have said not a chance. Running back Marcus Sims gained 204 yards rushing against the Hurricanes and scored three touchdowns. The Unicorns also have one of the finest quarterbacks in Germany in Marco Ehrenfried (Team Germany quarterback) and he managed the game very efficiently throwing for 324 yards and four touchdowns (18 of 30).
Marcus Sims in action
The Dresden Monarchs opened up a 42-7 halftime lead on the Marburg Mercenaries (AFI Europe #18) and then let up and allowed Marburg to score twice in the last two minutes to finally win 42-22. Running back Trevar Deed ran for three touchdowns and 99 yards in the first half and then stayed on the bench in the second. Quarterback Jeff Welsh was 10 of 11 for 141 yards in the first half and three touchdowns and he too did very little in the second. By the beginning of the third Dresden was already looking ahead to this coming weekend and a date with Schwabisch Hall.
In the only playoff game with any suspense, the Cologne Falcons (AFI Europe #6) held off a surging Stuttgart Scorpions (AFI Europe #12) squad 33-28 to secure a semifinal spot this weekend. The Falcons were outgunned and outgained by Stuttgart (215 yards offense to Stuttgart’s 418) but still found a way to win. This is what they have been doing for the past month. In fact, since July 13, they have won six of their nine last games and the last three straight. Nevertheless they will be facing a Braunshweig team who won two of those games dismantling Cologne both times badly.
