The Salzburg Ducks (0-3) will be looking for their first win of the year when they face the Swarco Raiders (2-3) in Innsbruck Saturday, May 4 as the Austrian Football League hits the midpoint of the season.
The Raiders bounced back against the lowly Telfs Patriots last week pummeling them 56-6 after losing three in a row to the Graz Giants (49-21), the Prague Black Panthers (21-0) and the Danube Dragons 23-7. Swarco has opened the season with a 45-2 victory over the Mödling Rangers. Salzburg have opened the season with three straight losses. After they were defeated 20-17 by the Graz Giants they then fell heavily being overwhelmed by the Vienna Vikings 62-0 and by the Prague Black Panthers 34-7.
Watch live here. Salzburg Ducks @ Swarco Raiders, May 4, 18:00 CET (6 pm, 12 noon EDT)
Offensively for the Raiders, quarterback Kason Martin will look to manage the game and avoid turnovers which have plagued them this season. Martin has only thrown for 434 yards in five games with Felix Kanter his leading target with 127 yards receiving and two touchdowns. However, Raiders running back Tim Tonko makes a difference. He leads the league in rushing with 50 carries for 502 yards and five touchdowns.
Defensively the Raiders are led by Dakota Cannon Griner who currently sits atop the AFL with 32 tackles in five games to go along with two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
The Ducks offense will need to find new life today. Quarterback Kristopher Denton has only thrown for 336 yards and one touchdown in three games. Running back Camron Madden has 209 yards on 32 carries yards while Denton has rushed for 174 yards and Jan Wiesauer has 120 yards rushing and one touchdown. Still, Salzburg is the fourth leading rushing team in the AFL and will need it today.