Saturday’s European League of Football action will close with an evening fixture between the 1-3 Paris Musketeers and the visiting 2-2 Hamburg Sea Devils.
After coming into the season as one of the ELF favorites, the Musketeers are yet to fulfil their potential and expectations. After leading the league in 2022 in both passing yards and touchdowns as a member of the Barcelona Dragons, quarterback Zach Edwards sits outside the top five in both stats, while holding first place in interceptions.
The Musketeers also have the second worst defense in the league based on points scored, struggling still to find an identity on either side of the ball.
They have however still managed to find moments of excellence, such as former Hamburg and Vienna TE Adria Botella Moreno who has been a bright spot of the Paris offense.
🎯 Touchdown Paris Musketeers !!!!
Incroyable touchdown sur 4th & 9 pour Paris, la passe d'Edwards retombe directement dans les mains d'Adrià Botella Moreno #SRGvsPAR #ELF pic.twitter.com/2xXY6Uecs1
— Spring Football News (@SpringFBnews) June 10, 2023
Paris’ last outing saw them suffer a 30-13 loss to the Frankfurt Galaxy, while also losing Edwards to a rib injury in the fourth quarter. There have been no public updates on Edwards’ injury status, but he can be expected to make a return given the lack of a roster update at the QB spot.
The Hamburg Sea Devils are coming off a dominant win over the Berlin Thunder thanks to an electric performance from the Preston Haire led offensive unit.
Haire racked up over 320 total yards with four passing touchdowns and a score on the ground, with all four passing touchdowns going to Malik Stanley who caught nine balls for 116 yards.
The @SeaDevilsHH around Preston Haire are having a DAY 😳
📺 #BTHatHSD LIVE now via our Gamepass. https://t.co/3bmC2nluKn 📲 pic.twitter.com/cSrKmFnAQt
— European League of Football (@ELF_Official) June 25, 2023
Defensively, Hamburg have struggled, averaging 24 points conceded per game, despite defensive back Deion Harris leading the league with three interceptions and the Sea Devils having three players in the top six sack leaders.
After losing their first two games, Hamburg will look to establish themselves as a top team by continuing their win streak.