Austria: Swarco Raiders use strong 2nd half to defeat Dacia Vienna Vikings
The Swarco Raiders, Europe #2, scored three unanswered second half touchdowns to break open a tight ball game and down the Dacia Vienna Vikings 34-13 this past weekend in Vienna, Austria.
The Raiders and Vikings had battled to a 13-13 halftime tie when Swarco’s defense rose up, picking off Vikings quarterback Austin Herink twice, one for a pick six. The offense did the rest in the fourth as the Raiders earned their second victory over their arch rivals in 2019.
Raiders quarterback Sean Shelton was efficient completing 15 of 21 passes for 171 yards and four touchdowns with Patrick Donahue catching two of those touchdown passes while Fabian Abfailter and Sandro Platzgummer caught the other two. Defensive back Arno Schwarz scored the other Raiders touchdown on an interception return. Schwarz kicked three extra points and Abfalter one.
Andrew Spencer scored both Vienna touchdowns as Herink threw for 204 yards and no touchdowns and was picked off three times, one for a major. Vienna was missing running back Ismaal Amadu and it showed as they rushed for a total of 36 yards as a team.
Swarco jumped out to a 13-0 first quarter lead as Shelton found Donahue for two touchdowns, thanks in part to a gift interception by Raiders defensive back Vincent Müller who returned it to the Vienna 20 yard line.
Once Herink finally was able to get his offense in gear, he drove the Vikings down to the Swarco 12 yard line early in the second period and then handed off to Spencer who punched the ball in to close the gap to 13-6. With Vienna’s defense playing inspired football, Herink then engineered a 10 play, 45 yard drive, marching his team down to the three yard line. Spencer did the rest again and Vienna tied the game at 13-13.
The third quarter was a tale of defenses as Herink was picked off twice, one for a touchdown while Shelton saw one of his passes intercepted.
Entering the fourth quarter, Swarco held a 20-13 lead when Shelton mounted a masterful 65 yard drive, capping it with a 20 yard touchdown pass to Sandro Platzgummer to increase the lead to 27-13 with seven minutes left in the game.
The next possession by Vienna was a disaster. Herink was sacked on back-to-back plays and the ensuing punt only traveled 26 yards. Taking over on his own 39 yard line, Shelton drove his team down to the Vienna four yard line in five plays, eating up almost three and a half minutes. He hit Abfalter for a touchdown and with less than two minutes left, Swarco held a 34-13 lead that would not change.
With the win, Swarco remains unbeaten in the Austrian Football League with an 8-0 record and two games left in the regular season. Vienna drops to third in the AFL standings at 5-3 behind the Raiders and the Danube Dragons who are 6-2.
