Dresden Monarchs secure place in the German Bowl by routing Saarland Hurricanes

| American Football | 09/28/2021

The Dresden Monarchs have secured their second German Bowl appearance by serving up the Saarland Hurricanes a crushing 37-0 defeat. The Monarchs will go on to play the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns for the German championship on October 9th.

The Monarchs began the GFL semi-final with the ball and immediately got running back Devwah Whaley (#12) into the game. His north-to-south running style and catching ability led the Monarchs down the field on their very first drive. Quarterback Kyle Carta-Samuels Jr. capped the 11 play 75-yard drive with a touchdown pass to his British-American receiver Anthony Brooks.

Although Carta-Samuels had lit up the league with his arm, it was Whaley who led from the front with his legs in this one. The Arkansas alumnus methodically chipped away at an outstanding Hurricanes defense, averaging 7.7 yards per carry. He scored the Monarchs’ second TD to bring them two scores clear after their defense held the Hurricanes to a three-and-out on the drive prior.

The Hurricanes managed to put something together as the second quarter came in, racking up a 62-yard drive, but it ultimately counted for nothing as the Hurricane offense consistently looked on the back foot against a defense determined to apply pressure.

It wasn’t long before Whaley again began to make his presence felt, ripping off two 20+ yarders and his second TD to bring the Monarchs up 21-0. Things continued to get worse for the Hurricanes as a muffed punt in their own territory gave the Monarchs excellent field position. And again, Whaley punched it in from the four for his third touchdown just before the half came to a close.

Outside of a wacky Carta-Samuels pass that was picked off in the Hurricane endzone, returned, fumbled back into the endzone and recovered by a Hurricanes defender for a safety, the third quarter continued much the same as the first half; the Dresden offense indiscriminately working its way down the field, picking off the Saarland defense, and scoring touchdowns. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Monarchs were up 37-0, and had hardly broken a sweat doing it.

All that was left in the fourth was for the backups to come in.

Despite the ease at which Dresden worked Saarland, we should not forget that this was an 8-2 team in the Hurricanes. They sported one of the most productive offenses in the league and one of the better defenses. This game was not a reflection on Saarland’s failing but rather the beast that has emerged from the North, barreling towards the Unicorns at light speed. Sparks will fly in the German Bowl, but whether any team can corral the Monarchs remains to be seen.

Daniel Mackenzie is a Press Association graduate who works in journalism and communications in the third sector. Daniel began playing football for the London Warriors and Team Great Britain and has since played across Europe.