The defending CEFL champion Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns displayed a dominance in all phases of the game in front of 1,700 home fans at Optima Park in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany, by rolling over Sweden’s Örebro Black Knights 58-7 in Central European Football League tournament quarterfinal play.
Schwäbisch Hall took an early 7-0 lead when quarterback Reilly Hennessey connected with Tyler Rutenbeck for a 38-yard touchdown after the receiver outbattled the defender for the ball. The Black Knights answered two possessions later with quarterback Trevor Vasey scrambling and then hitting Johannes Lindeus in the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.
It was all Schwäbisch Hall from then on to the delight of the fans packed in the stands.
Unicorns QB Reilly Hennessey threw for 399 yards and 4 TDs Photo: Jonas Domfors
First, on a first and 15 from his own 24-yard line, Hennessey swung the ball out to Rutenbeck who got two good blocks and simply outraced the Black Knights defense to the end zone to retake the lead, 14-7. Then, on an Örebro third and five at the Unicorns 24-yard line, Vasey threw the ball right into the hands of SH defensive back Luis Bach who returned it 80 yards for a touchdown to increase the lead to 21-7 early in the second. Örebro’s offense seemed to wilt after that and a poor punt by Vasey gave the ball back to the hosts in Black Knights territory. Five plays later, Stadelmeyer kicked a 34-yard field goal to add to the lead, making it 24-7 with over six minutes left in the half.
Another Schwäbisch Hall touchdown followed after Vasey was forced to punt again. Hennessey drove his team 70 yards in 11 plays with Christian Dietrich finishing it off with a one-yard touchdown plunge to give the Unicorns a commanding 31-7 lead at the half.
The Unicorns opened the second half with a textbook, seven-play, 67-yard drive with Hennessey completing five of six passes and then handing the ball off to Maurice Schüle who looped out and then cut back inside for a 21-yard touchdown, to make it 38-7.
The next Black Knights drive ended with another punt that Fettig returned 28 yards to the Örebro 31-yard line. Although the Black Knights defense kept Hennessey & co. out of the end zone, Stadelmayr kicked a 38-yard field goal for a 41-7 lead.
Black Knight QB Trevor Vasey directing traffic Photo: Jonas Domfors
Vasey was picked off late in the third quarter resulting in another Stadelmayr field goal. The day got even worse for Örebro as on the next series, Gertsson fumbled on his own 21 yard line and the Unicorns recovered on the 15. Leonell Fritzen made a spectacular catch in the end zone two plays later to extend the lead to 51-7 early in the fourth quarter.
The Unicorns added another touchdown late in the fourth quarter on a Hennessey to Ari Minton 23-yard pass.
Trevor Vasey ended the day throwing for 201 yards and a touchdown on 17 of 35 passing with Johannes Lindeus catching five of those passes for 94 yards and a score. His brother Jesper caught three passes for 65 yards and Gertsson four for 25. The Black Knights could only muster a total of only four yards rushing.
Unicorns quarterback Reilly Hennessey completed 23 of 39 passes for 399 yards and four touchdowns with Tyler Rutenbeck his main target with six receptions for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Hennessey managed to spread the ball around connecting with eight different receivers. Maurice Schüle was the leading rusher with nine carries for 61 yards and a touchdown.
With the win, the Unicorns advance to the CEFL semifinals scheduled for June 4.