The final group stage round of the IFAF Europe Champions League tournament provided a couple of surprises, but not the ones anyone was expecting, and produced the semi-finalists for the CL Final Four.
The Champions League Final Four will take place over the weekend of July 24-26 in Belgrade, Serbia.
Champions League North
Photo: Tommy Andersson
Carlstad Crusaders 42 v. Helsinki Roosters 7
Defending champions ousted
In the CL North group, the game between Sweden’s Carlstad Crusaders and the CL defending champion Helsinki Roosters from Finland was expected to be a tight affair. But it was not even close. The Crusaders dominated from start to finish as quarterback Anders Hermodsson constantly found his receivers, whether downfield or underneath, and kept the Rooster defense off balance with his running game. He threw three touchdown passes and rushed for two more. Carlstad jumped out to an early lead and were up 35-0 at halftime before easing up and rolling to a 42-7 win. Carlstad moves on to the Final Four.
Champions League West
London Blitz 55 v. Osos Rivas 0
Great Britain new country in the semis
Not unexpectedly, Great Britain’s London Blitz, facing Madrid’s Osos Rivas who were still reeling from the 76-0 shellacking they suffered the week before in the Spanish league, toyed with Osos for a quarter before steamrolling to a 55-0 whitewash of Spain’s number two club. The Blitz certainly spread the ball around as seven different players scored touchdowns with receiver Jack Daley scoring two on passes from quarterback Josh Adamson. The Blitz move on to the Final Four.
The Blitz were the highest scoring team in the tournament recording 82 points in two games.
Champions League Central
Thonon Black Panthers 41 v. L’Hospitalet Pioners 0
Last year’s semi-finalists return
The Thonon Black Panthers, France’s current title holder return to the Champions League Final Four with a 41-0 pasting of Spain’s L’Hospitalet Pioners. Black Panthers running back Stephen Yepmo scored three touchdowns to pace the victors who scored two touchdowns in each of three of the four quarters. In last year’s semifinals, the Black Panthers succumbed to the surprising Serbian side, Vukovi Belgrade.
The Thonon Black Panthers move on to the Final Four.
Champions League South
Ljubjana Silverhawks 47 v. Bogazici Sultans 14
Vukovi returns for another title shot
Although Vukovi Belgrade’s participation in the semifinals had already been decided by virtue of their two previous wins, the Ljubjana Silverhawks, Slovenian champions took on the Istanbul Bogazici Sultans from Turkey in a game for pride. But the Silverhawks, behind quarterback Clark Evans who threw for four touchdowns and rushed for two more, dominated the Sultans beating them 47-14.
So for the second year in a row Vukovi Belgrade, finalists last year, move on the play in the CL Final Four again.
Photo from Sweden courtesy Tommy Andersson.