The defending champion Porvoon Butchers (7-3) will play host to the Helsinki Roosters (9-1) in the top game of the week in Finland’s Maple League.
This is the first meeting between these two teams this year.
The Butchers enter this game on a six-game winning streak including a solid 24-8 win over the league-leading Kuopio Steelers and a 65-6 win over the Crusaders. Last week, Porvoon defeated the Wasa Royals 14-7.
Porvoon stumbled right out of the gate however, dropping two in a row, losing 34-16 to the Seinäjoki Crocodiles and then 28-7 to the Helsinki Roosters. They finally rebounded beating the Royals, pounding them 50-13 but then lost to the Steelers 21-7. They finally found their offense whipping the Crusaders 46-0 and the Wolverines 63-0 before the win against the Steelers.
Watch live. Helsinki Roosters @ Porvoon Butchers, Aug. 15, 17:30 CET (5:30 pm, 11:30 am EDT)
The Roosters defeated the Wasa Royals 28-12 in their opening day game and then upended the defending champion Butchers 28-7. They handed the United Newland Crusaders a 63-7 drubbing before beating the Wolverines. The Roosters dropped a 24-14 decision to the Kuopio Steelers but rebounded by winning four in a row beating the defending champion Seinäjoki Crocodiles 27-19, the Wolverines 42-7, the Steelers 34-13 and the Crocodiles 42-35.
Butchers quarterback veteran Brandon Gwinner has thrown for 2,094 yards and 24 touchdowns in the 10 games with his favorite target being Mikko Seppänen who has 46 catches for 599 yards and sixtouchdowns while Adam Cofield has caught 42 passes for 407 yards and six touchdowns. Micky Kyei is the leading rusher for Porvoo with 84 carries for 447 yards and seven touchdowns.
Roosters quarterback Ambro Urjansson has thrown for 2,120 yards and 27 touchdowns in the 10 games. With a revolving door of receivers due to injury, the Roosters are still able to maintain consistency in the passing game. Bruce Nunnelly tops the team with 703 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns. Running back Ethan Greenfield has 121 carries for 851 yards (85 yards/g) and 15 touchdowns, good for third in overall yardage in the Maple League.
This is a battle between the two top defenses in the Maple League. Helsinki has allowed an average of 12.4 points a game and the Butchers just 12.
This could be a very close game.