The Berlin Rebels from Germany scored 28 straight points en route to a 31-14 win over Sweden’s Carlstad Crusaders Saturday in the 1st annual Scandic Bowl in Karlstad, Sweden.
While strictly an international exhibition, or friendly, the game was somewhat historic in that it was the first time ever that a team from the German Football League played in Sweden.
Berlin took charge early and moved out to a 21-0 halftime lead, extending it to 28-0 in the third quarter and then held off Carlstad for the win.
The ground game was the difference. Carlstad could not control the Rebels rushing attack as Berlin outgained their Swedish hosts by almost 160 yards; 215 yards rushing compared to 60.
Rebels quarterback Terrell Robinson completed 15 of 23 passes for a modest 135 yards and one touchdown, but added another 74 on the ground along with one rushing touchdown. Berlin running back Andreas Betza had 13 carries for 98 yards and another score while Ahmad Khalife and Jason Harris also added majors.
For the Crusdaers, Shazzon Mumphrey threw for 150 yards and one touchdown with Elias Alberyd, catching the lone touchdown pass. Victor Toresson scored the only rushing touchdown for Carlstad while rushing for a total of 17 yards.
With Carlstad unable to move the ball in the first quarter, despite good field position, Berlin scored on their first three possessions to cruise to a 21-0 lead at the break.
Photo: Carlstad Crusaders
The Rebels took four plays to score after stopping Carlstad on consecutive possessions, with Betza doing most of the damage. Ahmad Khalife scampered in from seven yards out giving Berlin a 7-0 lead.
A poor punt on the Crusaders next series gave Berlin the ball at the 24 yard line. Robinson hit Harris from a yard out to extend the lead to 14-0.
An excellent 55 yard kickoff return by Elias Rosenquist gave Carlstad the ball on the Rebel’s 28 yard line but the offense still could not capitalize, getting stuffed on fourth down on the 19. Berlin took over and 12 plays and over seven minutes later, Betza bulled his way in from the four yard line and the lead was now 21-0 with little time left in the half.
The Crusaders defense finally got the stop they wanted to open the third period, limiting Berlin to no first downs, but the offense could not take advantage. On the very next series, Berlin struck again, as Robinson found a gap and raced 49 yards to widen the lead to 28-0.
Photo: Jacob Järpegård
This time though, Mumphrey managed to kick start the offense driving the Crusaders 50 yards in eight plays. Although a fumble snuffed out the drive at the Berlin 24 yard line, Rosenquist picked off a Robinson pass, returning it to the 11 yard line giving Carlstad an excellent scoring opportunity. The Crusaders offense made no mistake, with Toresson carrying the ball in from the six to reduce the lead to 28-6.
Although the next Berlin drive only produced a 40 yard field goal by xxxx, it ate up ore than six valuable minutes, giving a now revitalized Crusaders offense little time to do much damage. Mumphrey engineered a 75 yard drive, capping it with a seven yard touchdown pass to Alberyd and then adding the two-point conversion himself. But that was it as Berlin simply played ball control for the final three minutes, coming away with the win.