Germany: Allgäu Comets “Flying Circus” back on track, defeat Kirchdorf Wildcats

The 4-2 Allgäu Comets rebounded from last week’s surprising defeat to the Marburg Mercenaries, to down the Kirchdorf Wildcats 35-23 in German Football League sixth round action Sunday.

The “Flying Circus” was back on full display with quarterback Justin Sottilare completing 43 of 59 passes for 523 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Féli Manoka, Jonatan Gihl, Jordan Paul and Martin Emos all caught touchdown passes and all surpassed 100 yards receiving. Manoka led the way with 148 while Gihl had 144, Emos 120 and Paul 101. The fifth touchdown came on a running play (!) as Sottilare scored from one yard out early in the first quarter.

Wildcats quarterback Cameron Birse  threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns himself, with wide receiver Brandon Cox leading the way with nine catches for 162 yards.  Clemens Erlsbacher had two touchdown receptions while Klaus Fischer had one.

The Wildcats did not make this easy though.

After the Comets opened the scoring late in the first quarter on a Sottilare-to-Paul 18 yard touchdown pass, Birse responded, driving his team down to the Allgäu one yard line and then finding Fischer to give the Wildcats a 7-6 lead.

Sottilare came right back on the next series, completing eight of nine passes and capping the 66 yard drive with a one yard touchdown plunge. The successful two point conversion gave the Comets a 14-7 lead.

Birse tied it 14-14 on the next possession for the Wildcats with Erlsbacher finishing the drive off with a four yard touchdown reception.

With defenses suddenly wilting, the Comets came right back scoring on the ensuing series with Manoka catching a 38 yard touchdown pass from Sottilare giving Allgau a 21-14 lead.

Allgäu went into the break leading 21-16 after a mistake-filled possession which saw Sottilare finally fumble into his own end zone giving the Wildcats a two-point safety.

Kirchdorf stunned the Comets to open the third quarter by taking a 23-21 lead on Erlsbacher’s second touchdown of the game, a five yard pass from Birse.

That was the end of the scoring for the Wildcats though as the Comets defense reappeared keeping Birse & Co. in check while Sottilare went back to work. He threw a 50 yard touchdown pass to Emos and then hit a streaking Gihl early in the fourth quarter on a 65 yard pass and run to give Allgäu a 35-23 lead.

The rains came in buckets in the fourth quarter, limiting both offenses making conditions almost impossible. Neither team could move the ball and Allgäu was able to come away with an important 35-23 win.

Photos: Shakral Photographcy