LIVESTREAM: Austria – Dacia Vienna Vikings @Prague Black Panthers, Sunday, May 19, 3p CEDT (9a EDT)

| American Football | 05/19/2019

The Dacia Vienna Vikings (3-2) head to Prague in the Czech Republic to face the Prague Black Panthers (3-2) in Austrian Football League mid season action.

This is the second meeting between these two. In the highly publicized first game against the Dacia Vienna Vikings, Prague struggled, managing just one touchdowns in a 28-7 loss.

Since then, Prague has won three of four games easily beating the basement dwelling Amstetten Thunder twice, 51-6 and 49-9 along with the winless Traun Steelsharks, 56-8. Along the way they dropped a 35-14 decision to the Graz Giants.

So today’s game will be their third true test of the season.

There have been a few changes as the team has released head coach Daniel Levy who took them through an unbeaten season in 2018, replacing him on an interim basis with club president Petr Vítovec. Emmanuel Lewis who had been brought in when starting quarterback Dylan Potts was hurt, is now the offensive coordinator with James Brooks as the defensive coordinator.

Although he missed a couple of games, Potts has returned and thrown for 404 yards and 6 TDs while rushing for 341 yards and another 4 TDs. Teammate Herbert Gamboa has rushed for a league-leading 625 yards and 7 TDs. Jan Stiegler leads the team in receiving with 166 yards with Gamboa second with 134.

In other words, Prague likes to run the ball. They lead the league averaging 241.4 yards a game. They also have the best defense against the run allowing just 36.4 yards a game.

The Vikings are coming off a pair of wins. Last week they downed the Danube Dragons 10-3 and the week prior they had a big win in European Club Team Competition (ECTC) action in Barcelona, Spain, where they downed the Badalona Dracs 38-8. With the victory, the Vikings have won the ECTC Central Division(after also beating the Triangle Razorbacks from Denmark on April 14) and will now play in the ECTC/CEFL playoff game the weekend of June 8/9.

The Vikings have had a pair of tough losses first losing to the Swarco Raiders 48-28 in the second game of the year and then, two games later dropping a tough 36-14 decision to the Graz Giants.

Vikings quarterback Austin Herink was held to only two completions and 54 yards passing in the win over Danube but otherwise has put up respectable numbers so far having thrown for 1,017 yards and 12 TDs in five games. Bernhard Seikovits is his leading target with 366 yards receiving and five touchdowns. Running back Islaam Amadu has rushed for 327 yards and 3 TDs. Linebacker Lucky Ogbevoen leads all tacklers for the Vikings with 28.The Vikings added defensive back Andrew Spencer (Winona State University) to the defensive secondary prior to the Danube game and he responded with five tackles and a pass breakup.

This is a key game for both teams. In the seven seasons that Prague played in the AFL (2010-2016) before this year, they  never defeated Vienna. Will today be the first time?

Watch the game live here. Dacia Vienna Vikings @Prague Black Panthers, Sunday, May 19, 3p CEDT (9a EDT)

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