The Kragujevac Wild Boars (Serbia) will be looking to atone for a poor showing in the 2022 CEFL Cup when they host the Vysočina Gladiators from the Czech Republic Saturday, April 23 in the semifinal round of the 2023 Cup.
This will be the first time these two teams face each other.
In 2022, the Wild Boars were dumped 34-12 by the Fehervar Enthroners from Hungary and were eliminated. The Gladiators were beaten twice in 2022 CEFL Cup play. Fellow Czechs, the Prague Lions downed them 35-19 and then Poland’s Tychy Falcons whipped them 36-7.
Kragujevac has opened the 2023 Serbian season with two straight wins having defeated the Beograd Blue Dragons 27-7 and Vukovi Beograd 42-35. Meanwhile, the Gladiators have impressed with three straight lopsided wins in the Czech league. They whipped the Brno Alligators 49-0, Usti and Labem Blades 51-0 and the Bratislava Monarchs 27-7.
Kragujevac’s offensive leader in 2022, quarterback Isaiah Green, is back under center again and will team up with running back Ashton Heard. Green’s favorite target will no doubt be veteran wide receiver Strahinja Stepović.
Quarterback Jan Dundáček leads the potent Gladiators offense. He has thrown for 599 yards and seven touchdowns in the three games they have played while leading the team in rushing with 26 carries for 171 yards and another four scores. In other words, the Wild Boars will need to get him under control. His favorite receivers are Vojtěch Mašita (17 catches/255 yds/4 tds) and Petr Čermák (11/220 yds/2 tds).
Vysočina Gladiators @ Kragujevac Wild Boars, April 22, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 9 am EDT)
