The Ljubljana Silverhawks will play host to the defending champion and #3 ranked Dacia Vienna Vikings Saturday, April 14 at Ivančna Gorica Stadium, in Ljubljana, Slovenia in Austrian Football League action.
Originally scheduled as the opening game of the season, the matchup was postponed due to weather conditions.
The 1-1 Silverhawks dropped a 23-12 decision to the Danube Dragons but rebounded against the Traun Steelsharks, beating them 49-27 a week ago. The defending champion Vikings have looked every bit the reigning titleholders with three straight one-sided wins against the Steelsharks, Graz Giants and Danube, averaging 52 points a game.
Ljubljana quarterback, Zach Cavanaugh is second in passing in the AFL having thrown for 726 yards and seven touchdowns while Vikings pivot Garrett Safron is right behind him in third with 663 yards and 11 TDs. Silverhawks wide receiver, Matic Tomse, is the leading receiver in the AFL with 296 yards in receptions and five touchdowns. However, Bernhard Seikovits of the Vikings trails in second by only eight yards with 288 yards receiving and five touchdowns.
The running game is where the difference lies. Safron is the league’s top rusher with 388 yards and five touchdowns. Cavanaugh leads his team with 124 yards rushing, the 10th best mark in Austria.
These two teams played each other twice in 2017 with Vienna coming away with victories in both games, 49-14 in Slovenia and 48-35 in Vienna.
