Friday Night Football – Sweden’s Championship Rematch: Carlstad Crusaders v. Uppsala 86ers

The undefeated Carlstad Crusaders (6-0) look to add to their win total as Friday Night Football continues in Sweden with the Crusaders hosting the 3-3 Uppsala 86ers at Tingvalla stadium in Karlstad.

In the only previous meeting between the two teams this season Carlstad easily prevailed 55-20. That win was historic as Carlstad surpassed the Stockholm Mean Machines, becoming the winningest team in Sweden’s Superserien, notching their 153rd victory.

Carlstad defeated Uppsala in the Swedish final a year ago 34-21.

The Crusaders enter the game with the leading passer in the league, Philip Juhlin. He has thrown for 1,548 yards and 17 touchdowns in six games and looked impressive in Carlstad’s 34-0 win over the second place Orebro Black Knights last week. In that game, he  completed 22 of 32 passes for 392 yards and three touchdowns against a defense that had only allowed six points in the previous five games.

His receiving corps which includes Jacob Dahre, Alpha Jollah and Marcus Johnson, makes life very difficult for opposing secondaries. Dahre (494 yards) and Johnson (492) are second and third on the list while Jollah has only played in only the one regular season game so far – against Orebro last week – but picked up 164 yards receiving in that contest.

However, Uppsala seemed to reverse their fortunes last week beating the Tyreso Royal Crowns soundly as starting quarterback Kieran McDonagh returned after a two-game absence due to injury. Running back Victor St Pierre Laviolette from Canada leads the league in rushing with 483 yards and five touchdowns.

Carlstad’s defense looked very impressive against Orebro a week ago with a front seven which can dominate. Nevertheless, Uppsala is the only team to have scored three touchdowns against the Crusaders this year.