[tps_title]Europe’s Top League Ready To Roll[/tps_title]
Fifteen teams start the season in Germany, all with one goal in mind – to play in German Bowl XXXVII on October 10, 2015 in Berlin’s Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark stadium. The 37th GFL season kicks off Saturday April 18 with two early meetings.
The defending champion Braunschweig New Yorker Lions open the GFL North season at home against the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes. This game wll be streamed live. Braunschweig is coming off an undefeated league season which saw them rack up 47.7 points a game while allowing only 11. They were so dominant that their victory in the German Bowl against the high-flying Schwabisch Hall Unicorns was almost a foregone conclusion.
In 2014, the Lions lost two games outside of league, one in BIG6 Europe competition to the Vienna Vikings and the other to the Berlin Adler in the Eurobowl final when they played without their starting quarterback.
On the other hand, Kiel had a tough season in 2014 as they suffered through a long list of injuries to key players and limped into the post season before getting ousted in the quarterfinals. New coach Stephen Parker is determined to aim higher in 2015.
Tune into the LIVE STREAM: Kiel Baltic Hurricanes v. Braunschweig New Yorker Lions. Kickoff 6 PM CET (12 noon EDT)
[tps_title]German Football League North[/tps_title]
[tps_header]Braunschweig New Yorker Lions[/tps_header]
The defending champs enter the 2015 season virtually intact. Head coach Troy Tomlin returns along with defensive coordinator Dave Likins and the rest of an outstanding coaching staff.
Veteran running back David McCants returns and this year he will have Holland’s leading tailback Chris Smith helping out along with American Jabari Johnson. A key factor is the return of the entire offensive line.
On defense, coach Likins is happy as the anchors of the squad linebackers Kerim Homri (team’s leading tackler) and Jacob Schridde are back along with outstanding Polish defensive end Jakub Malecki. In fact, there have been no serious player losses and the addition of American defensive back Durelle Gibbons, the Lions defense will be tougher than ever.
[tps_title]German Football League North[/tps_title]
[tps_header]Kiel Baltic Hurricanes[/tps_header]
The departure of head coach Patrick Esume (who has taken over the French national team) caught many by surprise but the club wasted no time in finding his successor in Munich Cowboy offensive coordinator Stephen Parker. Munich had the second leading passing offense in the country last season.
Bolles, 6’3″ 210 lbs, had an outstanding season in 2014 running the Munich offense. He threw for just over 4,500 yards and 44 touchdowns, third in Germany while leading his team in rushing for over 700 yards and eight touchdowns.
Coach Parker:
“I was really happy to be able to bring Blake to Kiel. I like to have winners on my team and he is a true winner. He has won a national college championship and he knows this offense so well.”
In addition to Bolles, Kiel has added Austria’s top running back, Andreas Hofbauer. Known for his tough running style, Hoffbauer will force defenses to focus on the run as well as the pass.
National team wide receiver Julian Dohrendorf has returned. The 6’1″ Dohrendorf is a team leader and convincing him to return was high on Parker’s list of priorities.
On defense, linebacker Ryan Newell has also followed Parker from Munich. The 6’1″, 230 lb Newell has led Germany in tackles for the past three years, and last year racked up a total of 190. He will be joined on defense by defensive end Paco Varol, who transferred from Braunschweig after winning the 2014 championship. At 6’3″ 275 lb Varol has extreme quickness and strength.
Stephen Parker is aware that he has a young squad but feels that their youth and athleticism will offset the lack of experience.
LIVE STREAM: Kiel Baltic Hurricanes v. Braunschweig New Yorker Lions
