The Gdynia Seahawks from Poland advanced to the Central European Football League Cup final this past weekend after defeating the visiting Budapest Cowbells from Hungary 28-18.
The Seahawks jumped out to a 28-6 halftime lead and then held on in the second half for the win.
Gdynia quarterback Joey Bradley threw a pair of touchdown passes to Paweł Henicz while running back Jan Domgała rushed for two more.
For the Cowbells, quarterback Czirók Márton threw touchdown passes to Mészáros Márton and Szabolcska Balázs and rushed for one himself.
The Seahawks took control of the game early with Bradley directing the offense masterfully, scoring on the opening drive of the game. The Hungarian defending champions were able to move the ball into field goal range but Gdynia blocked the kick late in the first quarter.
Gdynia defensive back Dawid Magrean picked off a Márton pass, setting up Domgała first touchdown of the game. With the defense continuing to play well, keeping the Budapest offense in check , the Cowbells committed another turnover, this time a fourth down fumble on a bad snap. A couple of players later, Bradley found Henicz from 17 yards out increasing the lead to 21-0. Domagala then capped another drive with a three yard plunge and Gdynia moved out to a 28-0 lead, late in the first half. Budapest finally got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter as Márton connected with Márton to narrow the lead to 28-6.
The Cowbells came out in the third quarter with renewed energy scoring on their first possession as Balázs hauled in a 35 yard pass to close the gap to 28-12.
With the Seahawks offense suddenly unable to regain momentum, Budapest struck again as Szabolcski caught a touchdown pass from Márton and the lead was reduced to 28-18 with plenty of time left.
However, Magrean recorded his second interception of the game in the fourth quarter and the Seaahawks hung on for the victory.
With the win, Gdynia moves on the CEFL Cup Final where they will play either Serbia’s SBB Vukovi Belgrade or Sakarya Tatankalari from Turkey.