Finland’s Helsinki Roosters Still Undefeated Atop Maple League
The Helsinki Roosters won their seventh straight game Friday night as they downed the Turku Trojans 33-13. The Roosters rolled up 429 yards in offense. They remain unbeaten in Finland and look like the favorites to win the Finnish title for the fifth straight season.
Running back Jaycen Taylor leads the Helsinki offense rushing for 967 yards (second in Finland) in seven games and five touchdowns including 224 yards against the Trojans. Meanwhile quarterback Mic Brown although not prolific, has been steady with over 700 yards passing and 243 yards rushing.
The win against their 2015 finals opponents, the Trojans, was significant as Taylor’s 224 yards far outdid Turku running back Chris Douglas, the league’s leading rusher, who was held to 84 yards.
So with five games left in the season, the Roosters, one of Finland’s storied clubs, seem to be in the driver’s seat. Helsinki, winners of the past four Finnish Maple League championships and 18 overall, look poised to add a fifth straight.
QBs Mic Brown and Justin Sottilare leading their teams in different ways. Photo credits: Helsinki Roosters (L), Kari Toivonen (R)
Crocodiles not far behind
However, the Seinäjoki Crocodiles are not far behind.
Crocodiles quarterback Justin Sottilare leads the league with 1,935 yards passing. In the team’s only game against Helsinki this year he had the Crocodiles in front heading into the final quarter. The lead changed hands twice more late in that game and then Brown engineered a 12 play, 60 yard drive capping it with an Olin 27 yard field goal with less than a minute to play to secure a 29-27 Helsinki win.
Needless to say, the season is far from over and the Crocodiles seem to be turning this into a two-team race. The two teams face each other again on August 12. That could well be decisive.
