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.
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.
Great Britain
The London Warriors (AFI Europe #20) captured their second straight BritBowl title by downing arch rivals the London Blitz 10-8. Had the Blitz been successful with their two point conversion the game would have gone into overtime. With virtually no time left, the Blitz got behind the Warriors secondary and scored on a 67 yard pass and run. BritBowl MVP was Warrior defensive back Samuel Obi who reeled in two interceptions, as well as defending a number of passes and making two tackles, indicating how defensive this game was.
Holland
In July, the Alphen Eagles won Tulip Bowl XXX in a nail biter, beating arch rival the Amsterdam Crusaders 14-12. This was the third Tulip Bowl victory in a row for the Eagles.
Ireland
In a Shamrock Bowl that will be remembered as much for the rain as for the defenses, the Belfast Trojans outlasted Trinity College Dublin 7-0 to win their third Irish championship in a row. Read the recap HERE.
Italy
The Milano Seamen (Europe #19) won their first-ever Italian championship – Super Bowl XXXIV in July beating four-time champion the Parma Panthers handily 33-3.
Norway
The Norwegian championship was decided in July as the Kristiansand Gladiators beat heavy favorite the Eidsvoll 1814s 22-21 on a last second hail mary pass.
Poland
The Polish Super Final saw the Gdynia Seahawks defeat the Wroclaw Panthers 41-32 to win their second Polish title in three years. Read the game recap HERE.
Championship Game MVP Tunde Ogun leaps into the end zone for another TD.
Russia
The Moscow Patriots overcame a stubborn Astrakhan Gladiators team 27-12. The Gladiators, who had to travel 1,400 kilometers to Moscow overnight, started slow and the Patriots looked impressive in the early going. But Astrakhan gave Moscow all they could handle before succumbing to a very tough Patriots defense.
Read the recap above.
Speedster Viktor But on his way to the end zone
Serbia
Earlier this month, Vukovi Belgrade (Europe #10) made no mistake in the Serbian championship game beating rivals the Kragujevac Wild Boars 27-17, to cap a highly successful season. The Serbian squad also reached the finals of the the IFAF Europe Champions League tournament losing in a close one to Helsinki 36-27.
Spain
The season in June with the Badalona Dracs as new champions.
Sweden
In the Swedish nationally televised championship final, the Carlstad Crusaders (Europe #7) proved why they are one of the elite teams of Europe with a thorough trouncing of the Orebro Black Knights 49-9. In fact in all three meetings between these clubs this season the Crusaders have outscored the Black Knights 139-38. Read the game story here on AFI.
Switzerland
The Basel Gladiators (Europe #17) won the Swiss Bowl in July for the first time in their history.
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