The Kiel Baltic Hurricanes scored 10 unanswered fourth quarter points to pull out a 24-21 win over the Dresden Monarchs Saturday to secure second place in the German Football League North in front of 2,693 spectators at Kilia Stadion in Kiel.
With their second win over the Monarchs this season, Kiel has guaranteed themselves home field advantage n the first round of the playoffs which get underway on September 16.
Dresden took a 21-14 lead at the end of three quarters before the Hurricanes took control late in the contest.
The Monarchs jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, scoring on the second play from scrimmage, 59 seconds into the game as quarterback Garrett Safron found receiver Mike Schallo. Neither team could mount much offense until Kiel’s Xazier Murry picked off a Garrett Safron pass and then Hurricanes quarterback Jared Stegman connected with Diego Sanchez to pull Kiel even at 7-7.
Kiel QB Jared Stegman under pressure Photo: Marc Seefeldt
However, 30 seconds before the half, Safron found a seam and raced 31 yards to give Dresden a 14-7 lead.
Hurricanes running back and the league’s leading rusher, Chris McClendon bulldozed his way into the end zone early in the third quarter to even the score again at 14-14. But Safron wasted no time, hitting his favorite receiver, Sebastien Sagne, for a 75 yard touchdown and Dresden went back out in front, 21-14.
That’s when the Kiel defense stepped up.
Then McClendon scored his second touchdown of the game midway through the fourth quarter and Tim Albrecht kicked a 23 yard field goal to seal the win.
Needless to say, Kiel head coach Marcus Herford was happy with the win:
“I am very proud of the team. The defense was always better in the game against this strong Dresdner offense and forced a total of three turnovers. And I am very happy that we have secured a home playoff game in Kiel for the first time since 2012 so we can play in front of our fans at least one more time.”