The Graz Giants continue to roll through the Austrian Football League this past weekend after handing the Swarco Raiders a 49-21 defeat to extend their season-opening unbeaten streak to four games.
The Giants entered the game looking to keep their undefeated season alive, whilst the Raiders wanted to snap their own two-game losing streak while spoiling Graz’s chances at staying unbeaten. Unfortunately for the Raiders, Graz put on a clinic.
The Giants came out swinging in front of a crowd of over 1,000 people, not giving the Raiders a chance from the opening whistle. Within five minutes, Graz wide receiver Valentin Reißner hauled in a bullet from quarterback Nic Visser. Visser, who finished with 291 yards passing, then connected with Jakob Schneeberger to boost the lead to 14-0.
Graz Giants QB Bastian Steinmair looking downfield. Photo: Photography-kunzfeld-kunzfeld
The Raiders responded early in the second quarter as quarterback Kason Martin dropped a dime deep to Simon Pilger, to cut the lead in half, 14-7. Graz came right back though as Devonte Myles returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown and then Visser hit Fritz Bleckmann with a 10 yard scoring pass to boost the lead to 28-7 going into the break.
Graz did not let up in the third quarter as Visser found Christoph Pirer for two touchdowns, one a 26 yarder and the other a 56 yard score give the Giants a 42-7 lead entering the fourth period. The Raiders managed to reduce the lead to 42-14 on the opening drive of the fourth quarter as Martin hit Pol Bast for a nine yard score but Giants running back Fabian Pliessnig punched the ball in from four yards out to increase the lead again, this time to 49-14.
Raiders backup quarterback Stefan Maiacher tossed a 20 yard touchdown pass to Jens Walter with four seconds left on the clock to make the final score a more respectable 49-21.
With the win, Graz sits tied atop the AFL standings with the Vienna Vikings, both teams with a 4-0 record. Swarco falls to 1-3 to occupy sixth place in the eight-team Austrian league.