The Berlin Rebels finally found the win column this past weekend with a convincing 33-13 victory over the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes as the German Football League heads towards midseason.
With newly-signed quarterback Kurt Palandech on the roster along with veteran Terrell Robinson, Rebels head coach Kim Kuci took full advantage, rotating both. The move paid off and it was helped along by the great play of Berlin’s special teams.
Robinson started, engineering the first touchdown drive and then gave way to Palandech who orchestrated another two touchdowns en route to the season-saving win.
Palandech completed 13 of 18 passes for an efficient 130 yards and one touchdown while rushing for another. Robinson completed 60% of his passes for 68 yards and also rushed for a major. He also caught four passes for 31 yards. In other words, between the two, they accounted for much of the Rebels offensive output. Berlin’s special teams had a huge game, blocking two punts both for touchdowns with Paul Morant scoring one and Maciej Jaroszewski the other.
For Kiel, Jake Purichia threw for 187 yards and one touchdown to CJ Davis while Benedikt Englmann kicked two field goals and the extra point.
Paul Morant returning a blocked punt for a TD Photo: Christian Goßlar
Things did not look good on the Rebels opening drive though as Robinson fumbled on his own 25 yard line and Kiel recovered. But the Berlin defense stepped up and then Robinson redeemed himself, marching the team 75 yards in 10 plays and finishing the drive by punching the ball in from the four yard line to take a 7-0 lead.
Purichia then took advantage of a Berlin fumble on a punt return at the Rebels 30 yard line. He drove the Hurricanes down to the six yard line and Englmann booted a field goal to pull closer, 7-3.
Palandech took over with Berlin starting at their own 29 yard line, as he marched the team down to the Kiel 24. The drive ended there but he earned the confidence of the coaches and started the second half for the Rebels.
With his team holding a 7-3 lead, Palandech opened the second half with a 57 yard drive, completing six of seven passes on the way and finishing it with a six yard touchdown run.
Purichia answered again, this time taking his team down to the 15 yard line before Englmannn kicked his second field goal to narrow the gap to 14-6.
Palandech wasted no time on the next Rebels series, hitting TJ Esekielu up the middle for a 63 yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage boosting the lead to 20-6.
Things went from bad to worse for the Hurricanes as Morant picked up a blocked punt on the next possession and raced 27 yards to extend the lead to 26-6 just as the third quarter ended.
Kiel finally found the end zone at the start of the fourth quarter as Purichia took his team down to the Berlin 20 yard line and Davis hauled in a touchdown pass to reduce the lead to 26-13. But the Rebels special teams stepped up again. Jaroszewski blocked another Muller punt, this time right on the goal line and pounced on the ball in the end zone to make the score 33-13 with five minutes left.
Purichia managed to move his team down to Berlin’s 10 yard line but time ran out and the Rebels could finally celebrate a win.