Germany: Braunschweig New Yorker Lions still unbeaten

The Braunschweig New Yorker Lions  overwhelmed the Cologne Crocodiles 35-7 Sunday to win their 10th straight game and take firm control of first place in the German Football League North.

A crowd of 3,300 watched at Eintracht stadion in Braunschweig as  the Lions  scored three first quarter touchdowns and then another two in the third and let the defense do the rest.

Lions quarterback Casey Therriault completed 25 of 42 passes for 277 yards and four touchdowns. He spread the scoring out as Christian Bollmann, Nik Römer, David McCants and Justus Holtz all caught touchdown passes. Tim Unger had two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.

Cologne quarterback Ben Mentges had a tough afternoon throwing for just 67 yards and one touchdown. Trevor Vasey caught the lone touchdown pass for the Crocodiles. Running back Kevin Parks rushed for 97 yards. The Crocodiles could muster only 11 first downs and 169 yards in total offense.

Braunschweig took control early scoring on their first possession as Therriault marched them 65 yards in five plays finishing with a 27 yard touchdown pass to Holtz. With the defense playing superb football, Keeping Cologne in check, Therriault hit McCants with a 45 yard touchdown strike on the very first play of the Lions next possession and the score was 14-0 halfway through the first quarter. Unger picked off Mentges on the next series and returned it for a touchdown and with five minutes still left in the first, the Lions held a 21-0 lead.

Late in the second quarter, the Crocodiles offense got some help from the defense as Ploettner picked off Therriault (only his third interception of the year) and Cologne capitalized with Mentges marching  his team 45 yards in six plays, finding Vasey from 17 yards out with just 23 seconds left before the half to close the gap to 21-7 and inject some hope.

The Lions dashed all hope in the third quarter.

Therriault engineered a textbook drive to open the second half on five of seven passing capping the 65 yard march with a 13 yard touchdown pass to Römer, restoring the three touchdown lead. The defense again held Cologne to another three and out and the offense took over, marching 77 yards in eight plays. This time Bollmann caught an eight yard touchdown pass from Therriault to extend the lead to 35-7.

Braunschweig played ball control offense the rest of the way while the defense held Cologne to just four more first downs and the Lions came away with perhaps their most complete win of the season.

Next up for the Lions is the Berlin Adler while Cologne will play at home against the Dresden Monarchs this Sunday.