Europe’s #1 ranked Braunschweig New Yorker Lions from Germany head to Austria to face the number two Swarco Raiders Saturday in a battle which will decide American football supremacy in Europe.
A clash of titans if ever there was one.
Tirol Stadium in Innsbruck, Austria will be the site of Eurobowl XXX and it features the reigning German champion against the reigning Austrian titleholder. The New Yorker Lions are undefeated so far this season (6-0 overall) and lead the German league or are close to the lead in a number of categories including overall offense and defense.
The Swarco Raiders top the Austrian league and have an 12-1 overall record averaging 42 points a game while giving up only 10. Quarterback Sean Shelton has thrown for 1,951 yards and 15 touchdowns in Austria so far this season and tossed only one interception. His counterpart for the Lions, Grant Enders, is the most efficient passer in the German league having completed 53 of 70 passes for 748 yards.
Swarco’s leading receiver is Clemens Erlsbacher who has caught 22 passes for 459 yards and four touchdowns. Enders favorite target is Jan Hilgenfeld who has 17 receptions for 266 yards and three touchdowns.
Both teams feature top rated running backs. Milton Knox has been a force for the Raiders in their Big6 and Battle4Tirol games while the two-headed monster of David McCants and Chris Smith give Braunschweig two powerful weapons. The teams are evenly matched on the ground.
On defense Swarco is led by defensive lineman Maximilian Wild (6.5 tackles – 5 solo – and 3 tackles for loss) while Braunschweig’s front seven is anchored by Mamadu Sy (6 tackles – 6 solo – 4 tackles for loss and 3 sacks).
Head coaches Shuan Fatah and Troy Tomlin have led their teams to enormous success. The Lions have won the past three German crowns and captured the Eurobowl title in 2015 while the Raiders were Austrian champions in 2015 and won Eurobowl in 2011. The last time these two teams faced each other, the Lions prevailed 33-28 scoring in the last minute for the victory.
Watch Eurobowl XXX live! Kickoff 5:30 PM (11:30 AM EDT)
Photo credits: Mario Brunnbauer, American-Sports.info