The Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns and Braunschweig New Yorker Lions are getting set to wage another epic battle in German Bowl XLI Saturday, October 12 with quarterbacks taking center stage.
Braunschweig QB Brandon Connette has led his team to another undefeated season but not by putting up spectacular passing numbers. His efficiency rating was superb as Connette may have only thrown for 2,320 yards during the 14 game regular season and two playoff victories, but he achieved a rating of 182.5 and also rushed for 791 yards and 17 TDs.
Jadrian Clark looks like a slight favorite in this comparison with Connette. He too helped his team reach with final without a loss. Over the 16 games he has played this season, including both playoff wins, Clark has thrown for 3,904 yards and 50 TDs against only 9 interceptions. In the playoff victory over the Rebels he threw for 375 yards and 5 TDs and against Dresden, 257 yards and 3 TDs. But the kicker is his QB rating which topped the league at 199.4.
The is Clark’s second straight season in the playoffs. He was the quarterback for the Lions in 2018, guiding them to the semifinals.
Connette is no stranger to playoff football. Prior to arriving in Braunschweig, he led the Helsinki Roosters to two straight Finnish championships after having guided the Dresden Monarchs to the GFL semifinals in 2016.
Connette has another edge . He plays behind an offensive line that gave up the fewest sacks in the country, seven. Clark was sacked 25 times.
This is a tough one. Connette is the veteran and has an offensive line and the league’s best running back, Chris McClendon, to rely on. Clark’s receiving corps which includes Nate Robitaille and Tyler Rutenbeck, is maybe the best in the league.
Advantage: Even