For the second time this season, the Berlin Rebels (9-3) have defeated the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions (10-2) in German Football League regular season play, this time at home in Berlin, by a score of 23-14.
This is the first time since 2012 that the Lions have suffered more than one loss in a season. Berlin beat the Lions earlier in the season 26-21 and obviously applied the lessons they learned in this game.
With the win, Berlin solidified their third place position in the GFL North division and with two games left in the regular season, they have a real chance to finish second and a home date in the first round of the playoffs.
It was a battle between two of the top defensive teams in Germany and it showed.
Neither offense could move the ball effectively in the early going. Berlin struck first as running back Sean Richard found a seam and scored to give the Rebels a 7-0 lead.
Rebels WR Jason Harris Photo: Christian Goßlar
Braunschweig retaliated on the next drive with quarterback Jadrian Clark finishing it off himself to tie the game at 7-7.
Berlin Rebels quarterback Terrell Robinson displayed his running ability on a third and 13. Finding no receiver open he pulled the ball down and took off, shedding two tacklers en route to scoring the go ahead touchdown.
Berlin then held off the Lions offense and took a 14-7 lead into halftime.
Braunschweig opened the second half with a field-long drive but could not capitalize missing a chip shot field goal. However, the Lions secondary picked off an errant Robinson pass deep in Berlin territory and scored to tie the game at 14-14.
Berlin responded as Richard scored his second touchdown of the game on the ensuing series to give Berlin a 21-14 lead.
The Lions picked off another pass, this time a running back option with Richard trying to find Josh Simmons. But then the Rebels defense stiffened forcing a safety on a fourth down attempt to extend the lead to 23-14.
The onside kick attempt on the following kickoff fell into the hands of Berlin defender Roberto Miranda and the Rebels began celebrating.
Berlin has two games remaining against the Hildesheim Invaders and Hamburg Huskies and mathematically could finish first, second or third. The second place Dresden Monarchs (10-2) take on the Lions and Hildesheim while Braunschweig, in first place still, play the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes as well as Dresden.
This year’s finish in the GFL North will be exciting to watch.