Calanda Broncos extend unbeaten streak with rout of Winterthur Warriors

The Calanda Broncos (7-0) weathered an early challenge to crush the Winterthur Warriors (1-3) 52-21 in the 2025 Swiss National American Football League (NLA), sealing their sixth straight win at Winterthur’s Stadion Schützenwiese this past weekend.

Broncos overcome early scare
For the first time all season, the Broncos trailed as the Warriors struck first with a 7-3 first-quarter lead. Winterthur widened the gap to 14-10 early in the second quarter, capitalizing on a rare defensive lapse by the defending champions. Stand-in QB Max Gray (4 total TDs) steadied the Broncos with a touchdown run and connected with kicker Davi Weber for a field goal, but the early struggle signaled a tense battle.

Gray ignites second-quarter surge
The tide turned decisively when Gray unleashed a 14-yard rushing TD followed by two precision passes: a 25-yard strike to Lluis Sague and a record-breaking 10-yard toss to Adrian Sünderhauf. The latter score not only put Calanda ahead 31-14 but also cemented Sünderhauf as the Broncos’ all-time scoring leader (732 points), surpassing Lukas Lütscher’s 730-point milestone.

Sünderhauf etches name in history
The veteran tight end added a third-quarter rushing TD to pad his record, while rookies Noah Bachofen (7-yard TD) and Amel Adjovi (5-yard TD) showcased the Broncos’ depth. Winterthur’s lone rebuttal—a 75-yard TD pass on the halftime buzzer—proved futile as Calanda’s defense stifled the Warriors’ ground game, allowing just 42 rushing yards.

European challenge awaits
Fresh off the rout, the Broncos now shift focus to the CEFL quarterfinals, where they’ll face Serbia’s Kragujevac Wild Boars on May 10. The teams last met in 2019, with Calanda edging a 37-33 thriller. Coach Geoff Buffum emphasized readiness: “Kragujevac is aggressive, but our depth and discipline will carry us.”

Looking ahead
Before European glory, the Broncos host the winless Zurich Renegades on May 3 in an NLA regular season clash, coinciding with the inauguration of their new Obere Au Stadium. With Gray’s 412 total yards and Sünderhauf’s record-setting day underscoring their dominance, Calanda remains the NLA’s team to beat.

Source: GRHeute