Finland: Porvoo Butchers dominate Wasa Royals

AFI | American Football | 05/21/2018

PHOTO: VAAHTERALIIGA.FI

The Porvoo Butchers scored three fourth quarter touchdowns, two in the span of 21 seconds, to break a 13-13 tie and open their 2018 season with a 36-13 victory over the Wasa Royals on the road in Vaasa, Finland Sunday.

The Butchers used a superior ground game for the win, outrushing Wasa 230 yards to 127.

Butchers running back Darion Hall rushed for 145 yards and one touchdown while Sebastian Lindell scored two touchdowns, both in the fourth quarter while rushing for 98 yards. Quarterback Jan Lehtinen threw for only 61 yards but one touchdown to Daniel Luoma. Joni-Petteri Malka kicked two field goals and three extra points.

Isaac Fisher completed nine of 24 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown for the Royals but had two picked off both late in the game. He rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown while Tom Suoste caught a swing pass and took it in for a touchdown.

Porvoo took a 13-7 halftime lead on touchdowns by Luoma and two field goals by Malka. But the Royals tied the score 13-13 in the third quarter on Suoste’s touchdown.

Hall scored for the Butchers early in the fourth to give Porvoo a 20-13 lead and then Ovesen committed a costly fumble on the ensuing kickoff on his own 11 yard line. On the next play, Lindell scored to up the lead to 27-13 with nine minutes left, totally demoralizing the Royals.

Another turnover spelled disaster for Wasa as Fisher was picked off on his own 33 yard line on the very next possession. Six plays later, Lindell scored again from seven yards out increasing the lead to 34-13 with four and a half minutes to go. The Butchers defense did the rest, forcing a safety on the next series extending the lead to 36-13 and, more importantly, getting the ball back into the hands of the Provoo offense.

A final drive by Wasa ended with another Fisher interception.

The win gives Porvoo a 1-0 record in Finland while the Royals, 2017 Maple Bowl finalists, drop to 0-2.