LIVESTREAM Austria: Graz Giants @ Salzburg Ducks, May 21, 14:00 CET (2 pm, 08:00 am ET)

AFI | American Football | 05/21/2022

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Austrian Football League heads into its sixth round of play this weekend as the Graz Giants (1-3) pay a visit to the winless Salzburg Ducks (0-5).

The Ducks were beaten by the Danube Dragons 31-21 to open the season and the Prague Black Panthers, 17-7. They then lost a heartbreaker to the Vienna Vikings 14-13 before dropping a 28-26 decision to the Mödling Rangers two weeks ago. Last week, Salzburg were shut out by the Znojmo Knights 17-0.

The Giants beat the Traun Steelsharks 41-25 but then were surprised by the Rangers 26-25 and then lost to the Prague Black Panthers, 31-19. They dropped a surprise 28-26 decision to the Knights and now find themselves well out of contention for a playoff spot.

Behind center for the Ducks is American quarterback Kris Denton who has thrown for only 791 yards and six touchdowns in five games after a four passing touchdown performance in the loss to Mödling. His leading receiver, Maximilian Reuter, has caught 18 passes for 199 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Salzburg is the second leading rushing team in the AFL averaging 150 yards a game with Denton being the team’s top rusher with 52 carries for 392 yards, good for second overall in the AFL. They will be facing the league’s fourth best defense against the run as the Giants give up 95.5 yards a game,

The Ducks have the league’s stingiest defense against the pass giving up 132 yards a game. This may well be the key to the game as the Giants are the top passing team in Austria, averaging 304.8 yards a game.

Graz import receiver Darrell Adams continues to be one of the league’s most dominant receivers, recording 399 yards and three touchdowns in the four games. In tandem with his college teammate, quarterback Tyrone Willaims (Azusa Pacific), who has thrown for 1,202 yards and four touchdowns in the four games, good for third in the AFL Adams constitutes a threat every time he is on the field. The Williams-Adams school connection definitely adds an extra layer to the bond between quarterback and receiver. Running back Lukas Bauer is the leading rusher for Graz with 31 carries for 128 yards but did not play in the last game. Johannes Schütz rushed for 77 yards in the loss to Znojmo.