Austria: Reigning champion Prague Black Panthers notch 1st win of season

The Prague Black Panthers secured their first victory of the Austrian Football League season this past weekend in a tightly contested 21-19 battle against the Salzburg Ducks marked by explosive plays and late-game drama.

Prague quarterback Kaylan Wiggins set the tone early, connecting with Dan Lindovsky for a swift opening touchdown, followed by Martin Mandik’s extra point. Before the first quarter ended, Wiggins orchestrated another scoring drive, hitting Jan Vrnata in the end zone for a 14-0 lead.

The Ducks responded in the second quarter as quarterback Ian Gehrke engineered a 75-yard drive capped by Rahsaan Lewis’s 5-yard rushing TD. Moments later, Benjamin Hellett intercepted Wiggins and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown, though his missed PAT left Salzburg trailing 14-13. The Black Panthers extended their lead in the third quarter with Pavel Prokop’s 25-yard rushing TD and Mandik’s PAT (20-13).

Salzburg’s fourth-quarter rally saw Gehrke find Lewis again for a 12-yard TD pass, but a failed two-point conversion attempt preserved Prague’s narrow edge. Key defensive stands by both teams defined the final minutes, with Prague’s defense holding firm despite Salzburg’s 320 total offensive yards.

Notably, Wiggins finished with 198 passing yards and two TDs, while Lewis amassed 112 rushing yards and two scores for the Ducks. Salzburg’s defense, praised by wide receiver David Kanyinda, limited Prague to just 250 total yards but couldn’t overcome critical missed opportunities. The loss dropped Salzburg to 0-2, while Prague (1-1) celebrated a breakthrough win built on opportunistic plays and clutch special teams