The Projekt Spielberg Graz Giants (#4) will square off against the Danube Dragons (#5) today, Saturday, July 15, to determine who advances to the Austrian semifinals to face either the Dacia Vienna Vikings or the Swarco Raiders.
The two teams faced each other twice in 2017 with the Giants coming out on top in both games, 52-33 and 34-27.
However, in the second game a month ago, Graz had to recover from a 21-6 first quarter deficit to win.
Graz enters the game having won two of their last three games, including the one against the Dragons. Danube on the other hand dropped the final three regular season contests, to the top two teams, Vienna and Swarco, and to Graz.
The Giants have scored 303 points in 10 games this season placing them sixth in the league. They have the third best defense though allowing 25 points a game. Danube boasts the fourth highest scoring offense averaging 36.3 points a game while their defense is ranked behind the Giants giving up an average of 33 points per game.
Giants quarterback Brandon Gorsuch finished as the sixth leading passer in the Austrian league having thrown for 2,072 yards and 22 touchdowns. Danube’s Dylan Potts climbed past him into fifth with 2,095 yards passing and 27 touchdown passes. However, Potts was also the leading rusher in Austria with 1,235 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns. The top rusher for Graz , and fifth in Austria, is Alexander Sanz with 622 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Graz Giants has appeared in the Austrian championship game 20 times since 1984 and won it 10 times, but the last time was in 2008. The Dragons won the 2010 Austrian Bowl, in their only appearance in the championship game.
In the other wild card game, the Ljubljana Silverhawks (#3) face the Mödling Rangers (#6).
