IFAF Men’s EC: Germany overwhelms Great Britain

Germany made an historic return to the men’s IFAF European Championships after a ten-year absence with a statement road win over Great Britain on Saturday.

Shuan Fatah’s team beat the Lions 49-11 in front of a raucous crowd at the Butts Arena in Coventry to set up a mouthwatering home game against Sweden on October 26 to decide which team advances from Group D to the playoff stages.

“Obviously we’re very pleased right now because we wanted to win this game,” said coach Fatah. “We were ahead early, so they couldn’t run it all the time, so they had to throw the ball, and it didn’t look like that was their strength. It was a hard fought and physical game and I’m just happy we won because after such a long time not playing it’s nice to start with a win.”

Having passed for two first downs then Kai Michael Hunter rushed untouched 31 yards up the middle to establish an early German lead. Kicker Erik Schlomm, who was perfect on the day, tagged on the first of his seven extra points.

A 43-yard field goal from Alex Lenkowski trimmed Germany’s lead to 7-3, but a 27-yard connection between quarterback Lars Heidrich and Hendrick Schwarz opened a 14-3 advantage.

Germany extended that lead to 21-3 before halftime when Hunter’s run set up a third and five, Heidrich rolled to the right and fired a touchdown pass to Louis Geyer, meaning Germany had scored on three successive possessions.

“As a child you dream of being the quarterback of the national team and now standing on the field after ten years, it’s the best feeling in the world,” said Heidrich, who was named the game MVP.

Great Britain took three points off board when choosing to accept a holding penalty during a 34-yard Lenkowski field goal and after two Jason Strong two incomplete passes in the end zone Lenkowski’s resulting 24-yard field goal sailed wide left.

Germany produced a trick play to open the second half by increasing their dominance to 25 points as Heidrich lateralled and a simple pass found Marvin Rutsch in the end zone. Hunter then scored his third rushing touchdown of the day despite a fumbled snap to make it 35-3.

Wide receiver Andy Owusu, continuing his strong personal form, powered in for a touchdown after getting the ball to within one yard on the preceding play, marking his third touchdown inside a week having scored twice in a narrow loss to Sweden. Strong’s two-point pass to Eden Theide-Palmer meant GB trailed 35-11, but a failed onside kick set up another German touchdown run.