Bialystok Lowlanders upset Gdynia Seahawks, advance to LFA semifinals in Poland

The Bialystok Lowlanders avenged an earlier defeat to the Gdynia Seahawks in  Poland’s Liga Futbolu Amerykańskiego by soundly beating them 26-7 Saturday in the final regular season game in Gdynia, earning a semifinal berth in the Polish playoffs.

The Seahawks had edged Bialystok 18-15 in the second game of the season.

Quarterback Ryan Kasdorf threw one touchdown pass and ran one in himself while running back Mikołaj Pawlaczyk rushed for two. Tomasz Zubrycki caught the lone touchdown pass while Bartek Trubaj kicked two PATs.

Seahawks quarterback Joey Bradley threw a touchdown pass to Paweł Henicz.

The Lowlanders made a defensive statement on the first series with linebacker Zach Blair leveling Bradley for the game’s first sack. After having two touchdowns called back on penalties, the Lowlanders finally scored early in the second quarter with Kasdorf carrying the ball in from the two yard line.

With the Bialystok defense keeping Bradley and company in check, Kasdorf struck again, this time throwing a touchdown pass to Zubrycki increasing the lead to 14-0 at halftime.

Bialystok wasted no time in the second half with Kasdorf marching his team down to the three yard line. Pawlaczyk  punched the ball in and the Lowlanders now led 20-0.

Gdynia finally got on the scoreboard with Bradley finding Henicz  for a short touchdown pass to cut the lead to 20-6. However , Lowlanders defensive back Grzegorz Mantur picked off a Bradley pass early in the fourth and then Pawlaczyk sealed the win with a spectacular 80 yard touchdown run.

With the win, Bialystok qualifies for the semifinals while the Seahawks now must play a wild card playoff game against the winner of the LFA Group B.

Check out the highlights of the game here.