LIVESTREAM: ECTC – Helsinki Roosters (Finland) @Copenhagen Towers, Sat., May 11, 3p CEDT (9a EDT)

AFI | American Football | 05/11/2019

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Copenhagen Towers will host Finland’s Helsinki Roosters in Copenhagen, Denmark in a game which will determine the winner of the Northern European Football League title Saturday, May 11.

The Towers are the defending NEFL champions after beating the Carlstad Crusaders in the 2018 final. Copenhagen then went on to play Austria’s Swarco Raiders in the NEFL/CEFL Superfinal, where they came out on the losing end, 41-20.

The Towers downed Sweden’s Stockholm Mean Machines 28-25 a couple of weeks ago, eliminating Stockholm from the tournament. Helsinki had beaten the Mean Machines earlier in April.

Copenhagen will enter the game relatively healthy and with quarterback, Danny Higgins from Bridgewater State University. All American running back Ashton Heard from North Greenville University who ran roughshod over the Mean Machines, rushing for 142 yards and scoring three of the Towers touchdowns, is also a key to the offense. Higgins threw for 217 yards in that game with Jesper Hansen catching the other touchdown pass. Since that game, Copenhagen has added another All American, defensive end William Sewell from Frostburg State (NCAA Div. III).

The Roosters have undergone a few changes since winning the Finnish crown in 2018. New head coach Mikko Koikkalainen starts the season with Miro Kadmiry at quarterback. Kadmiry led Team Finland to the bronze medal in the 2018 IFAF European Championships. He still has the Roosters leading receiver from 2018, Adam Connette.

Defensively, Helsinki may have the edge. In 2018, they allowed a league-low 16.6 points a game and in the playoffs lowered it to 10.5. They are playing with only one import on defense, French national team defensive lineman, Camille Gruel.

In the win over Stockkholm, Connette scored two touchdowns while Kadmiry scored a third. Kim Saarijärvi kicked all three extra points which proved critical.

This one is a toss up. Home field advantage will give the Towers the edge.