ELF: Semifinals promise fireworks

This weekend, the European League of Football reaches the semifinal stage with two mouthwatering matchups.

The number one seed and unbeaten Vienna Vikings (12-0) will play host to the fourth seed Paris Musketeers (11-2) who are coming off a thrilling 40-37 victory over the Munich Ravens in the Wild Card round. Meanwhile, the defending champion Rhein Fire (12-1) who also needed to go through the Wild Card stage where they downed the Madrid Bravos 40-10, will face the Stuttgart Surge (12-1) in a rematch of the 2023 Championship Game.

Let’s take a quick look at the two matchups

Saturday, September 7

Paris Musketeers (#4) @ Vienna Vikings (#1)

The Paris Musketeers were tested in their first playoff encounter in a game which saw quarterback Zach Edwards throw for a mere 98 yards and one touchdown. Instead the Paris ground game featuring running back Chris Voumbo was the key. Voumbo rushed for 110 yards and three touchdowns. And although the Paris offense was overshadowed by the Ravens offense who racked up 421 yards compared to the Musketeers 272, the Musketeers found a way to score the last touchdown with 30 seconds left to win the game. They won’t have that same luxury against the well oiled Vienna Vikings. Quarterback Ben Holmes was the second leading passer in the ELF in terms of passing yards per game (260.3) and had the same number of passing TDs as Edwards (34) but in 10 games.

The Vikings have the second leading rusher in the ELF in Karri Pajarinen who rushed for 1,123 yards and 13 TDs. Paris’s leading rusher was Edwards while Voumbo was well down the list with 497 yards on 85 carries.

Still the Musketeers enter the game with a battle tested crew. Meanwhile, Vienna is well rested although possibly also a little rusty after not having played a game since easily defeating the Fehervar Enthroners on August 17.

Sunday, September 8

 Rhein Fire (#3) @ Stuttgart Surge (#2)

The Rhein Fire dominated the Madrid Bravos in the Wildcard Round, defeating them 40-10 after jumping out to a 20-3 first quarter lead. In fact, the Fire have not been truly tested since their late June game against the Berlin Thunder which they won 27-24 after trailing 21-7 at halftime. In the Wild Card game, Rhein’s offense was at its efficient best with Jadrian Clark completing 13 of 17 passes for 248 yards and four touchdowns while the ground game behind Glen Toonga’s 133 yards rushing on 11 carries did its damage. All four passing touchdowns were scored by Harlan Kwofie who had 216 yards receiving on just 10 catches.

Toonga is the Fire’s key weapon as the league’s leading rusher having rushed for 1,497 yards and an astounding 29 touchdowns. The Surge front seven will have their work cut out for them.

Stuttgart’s offense led the league in points scored (565) and was second in yards gained (5,193). The Surge were second in passing yardage (3,279) with Reilly Hennessey himself throwing for 2,888 yards and 35 touchdowns. Stuttgart’s receiving duo of Louis Geyer (854 yds) and Yannick Mayr (811 yds) were 8th and 10th respectively in receiving yards. The Surge finished the regular season as the second best team in the league defending the run allowing just 92.3 yards per game. Meanwhile, the Fire led the league in team rushing averaging 198.3. Rhein was the top team in the ELF against the pass giving up 146.6 yards a game.

The last time these two met was in the 2023 Championship game which the Fire won 53-34 after outscoring Stuttgart 20-6 in the final stanza.

This one is a toss up.