LIVESTREAM BNL: Amsterdam Crusaders @ Limburg Shotguns, April 16, 18:00 CET (6 pm, 12 noon ET)
The two best teams in the BNL will square off Saturday, April 16 as Belgium’s Limburg Shotguns will play host to the Amsterdam Crusaders from the Netherlands at Beringen Mijnstadion in Belgium.
In BNL play, both teams remain unbeaten. Limburg has a 2-0 record after earning wins over the Arnhem Falcons (41-0) and Groningen Giants (51-0), both from Holland, while the Crusaders have won all three of their BNL games beating the Hilversum Hurricanes 46-7, the Igezem Tribes from Belgium, 36-0) and the Arnhem Falcons 51-14.
In other words, this is a clash between the two best teams in the BNL and the top teams from their respective countries.
The Shotguns enter the game led by running back Jaycen Taylor and quarterback Bram Baete. However, backup quarterback Oskar Sardyga, who threw six touchdown passes in the win over the Groningen Giants, is ready in the wings should anything happen to Baete. Taylor is a threat every time he touches the ball. The former MVP of Finland’s Maple League and Purdue graduate is perhaps the most potent weapon in the Shotguns arsenal. Other Limburg players for Amsterdam to keep an eye on include wideout Jay Koltzem who scored two touchdowns against Arnhem and running back Michael David.
Defensively, linebacker Nick Vanhee returns to the lineup while the Dutch duo of Nick Meijers and Mathew Bodden, both with backgrounds in the German Football League, are eager to face their toughest test of the year.
For Amsterdam, the main weapons in head coach Alejandro Alfarez’ arsenal are quarterback Jasper Nijland who has accounted for seven touchdowns in the three BNL games. Veteran running back Miquel Castelen has found the end zone four times and is always dangerous.
On defense, the Crusaders rely heavily on strong safety Soufyan Dardour who has three interceptions so far in the three BNL games.
