Finland: Helsinki Roosters capture 23rd Maple League title in dominating fashion

The Helsinki Roosters bulldozed their way to the 23rd Maple League championship in their history this past weekend after pummeling the Seinäjoki Crocodiles 49-14.

The Roosters “put the pedal to the metal” from the opening whistle, jumping out to a 28-7 halftime lead and then continuing the onslaught in the final two quarters.

Helsinki quarterback Ambro Urjansson threw for 231 yards and five touchdowns while receiver Johannes Jauhiainen had nine catches for 121 yards and three of those touchdown passes. Bryce Nunnelly, Ethan Greenfield and Rene Rautiainen also notched scoring receptions. Greenfield also dominated on the ground rushing for 187 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

For the Crocodiles, Christian Anthony Arrambide completed 18 of 32 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns but running back Christian Powell was held to 69 yards on 15 carries and did not find the end zone. Wide receiver J’Kobi Cordell Jason Reddick had seven catches for 87 yards while Janne Särkelä caught five passes for 84 yards and one touchdown. Powell caught two passes for 89 yards and the other touchdown.

The Roosters opened the scoring early with Urjansson finding Jauhiainen for a 42 yard touchdown. But Seinäjoki answered late in the period as Arrambide hit Särkelä from two yards out to even the score at 7-7.

That was as close as the Crocodiles would come.

Helsinki reeled off three unanswered touchdowns with Greenfield scampering for a 41 yard score and Nunnelly stepping in to throw a 26 yard touchdown pass to Rene Rautiainen. Urjansson then tossed a short pass to Greenfield who punched the ball in from the three yard line to extend the lead to 28-7.

Although Powell seemed to give his team new life with a 90 yard touchdown early in the second half, the Roosters wasted no time killing that feeling. Urjansson connected with Jauhiainen twice more in the third to up the score to 42-14. Then the Roosters signal caller marched his team down to the Seinäjoki three and hit Nunnelly for the game’s final score midway through the fourth.

This was an impressive performance by a Roosters team that actually lost two games during the regular season. Urjansson was only the third Finnish quarterback to lead his team to the championship title following in the footsteps of Miro Kadmiry and Petrus Penkki.