Germany: Nate Robitaille leads Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns past Allgäu Comets with 5 TDs

Behind five touchdowns from Nate Robitaille, four in the second quarter, the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (12-0) cruised to a 65-23 win over the Allgäu Comets at Optima Sportpark in Schwäbisch Hall this past weekend in the German Football League.

Robitaille caught three touchdown passes, and returned both a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns in a sparkling performance helping the Unicorns to clinch the GFL South division title for the ninth time and the eighth in a row.

The Unicorns jumped out to a 19-0 lead early in the second quarter before Allgäu could even cross midfield. Schwäbisch Hall scored on five of their first seven possessions in the first half adding a Robitaille punt return touchdown for good measure taking a 39-15 lead at the half.

Marco Ehrenfried threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another. British national team quarterback James Slack also saw second half action completing 5 of 9 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. Robataille caught five passes for 68 yards and three touchdowns, returned on punt for 66 yards and a touchdown and three kickoffs for a total of 162 yards including an 83 yard touchdown. Tyler Rutenbeck caught three for 89 yards and Andre Feuerherdt had three catches as well, for 65 yards and a touchdown. Maurice Schüle led the team in rushing with 74 yards and two touchdowns. The only Unicorns player having a sub-par day was usually reliable kicker Tim Stadelmayr who missed five of 10 extra points.

For Allgäu quarterback Justin Sottilare it was a dismal day as he had 88 yards in passing although he threw two touchdown passes. He was picked off twice, one for a touchdown. His backup, Britain’s Calvin Stitt threw for 92 yards and a touchdown. Newly-signed Gabriel Chambers led all receivers with three catches for 91 yards and a touchdowns while Jordan Paul and Feli Manoka also added scores.

The Unicorns scored on their first two possessions with Ehrenfried scoring on a one yard plunge to open the scoring and then Schüle capping a short drive with another one yard touchdown to give Schwäbisch Hall a 13-0 late in the first quarter.

Robitaille scored the first of his five touchdowns on a 66 yard punt return a minute into the second quarter and the Unicorns lead increased to 19-0.

Sottilare was finally able to get the Allgäu offense into gear marching them 75 yards in eight plays finishing it with a 16 yard touchdown pass to Manoka to narrow the gap to 19-7.

Ehrenfried wasted no time responding though as three plays later he found Robitaille for a 26 yard touchdown pass giving the Unicorns a 26-7 lead. Robitaille scored again with three minutes left in the first half, hauling in three yard pass from Ehrenfried, capping an eight play 72 yard drive and Schwabisch Hall now led 32-7.

Allgäu picked off an errant Ehrenfried pass at the Unicorns 16 yard line and Sottilare connected with Jordan Paul to close the gap to 32-15 with a successful two-point conversion by Paul.

But there was no stopping the Unicorns offense as with just 36 seconds on the clock, Ehrenfried drove his team to the Allgäu 24 yard line and then calmly threw a touchdown pass to, who else, Robitaille, extending the lead to 39-15 going into the half.

The onslaught continued in the third quarter as Robitaille returned the opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown. Then, Allgäu receiver Emos fumbled the ball away on his own 32 yard line and Schüle scored on a 27 yard run two plays later and suddenly, only two minutes into the second half, the score was 52-15.

Two possessions later, Sottilare was picked off by Raheem Wilson who returned the ball all the way, 62 yards, to boost the lead to 59-15 still with four minutes left in the third quarter.

Another interception sidelined Sottilare and Stitt entered the game at quarterback for the Comets and on his first play from scrimmage he threw a 75 yard touchdown pass to Chambers.

Slack finished off the scoring midway through the fourth quarter connecting with Feuerherdt for a 65 yard touchdown.With backups in for both teams, the score remained 65-23.

With two games left, the Unicorns look poised for their third straight undefeated season. Meanwhile, Allgäu have three games to play and are in a battle for a playoff berth.