LIVESTREAM Finland: Kuopio Steelers @ Seinäjoki Crocodiles, Aug. 22, 16:30 EEST (15:30 CET, 9:30 ET)
Saturday August 22nd will be the final game of week four in the Finnish Maple League. The undefeated Kuopio Steelers will be driving across the country to visit the Seinäjoki Crocodiles. Both teams have a lot to play for this week as Seinäjoki is fighting for a playoff spot while the Steelers are looking to secure a home playoff game.
The visiting Kuopio Steelers are coming off of their best game of the season dominating the Helsinki Wolverines from the starting kickoff. The Steelers embarrassed the Wolverines winning 70-6. Offensively, the Steelers passing game looked unstoppable. Quarterback Seth Peters finished the day with 366 yards and 7 touchdown passes. Five of his touchdown passes went to receiver Tino Ndongo who was the leading receiver on the day with 180 yards. Look for Kuopio to keep the passing chemistry rolling this week against the Crocodiles. The Steelers also announced they had signed German receiver Max Zimmerman. Zimmerman is a former standout for the Potsdam Royals in Germany. Zimmerman was part of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL for the 2019 season.
Kuopio Steelers @Seinäjoki Crocodiles, Aug. 22, 16:30 EEST (15:30 CET, 9:30 ET)
Defensively, the Steelers defense held the Wolverines to -17 yards rushing. Yes, negative yards. The lethal combination of newcomers Semmie Radji, AJ Wentland, and Kadel King combined with Steelers veterans like Jani Lindqvist and Tommy Kaczocha has transformed Kuopio’s defense into the most feared in the country. Linebacker AJ Wentland had 6.5 tackles and forced a fumble in his first game for the Steelers last week. Wentland on the defense meshing well and the matchup with Seinäjoki and their star running back Christian Powell:
“We mesh well and have a lot of fun out there together. Christian is a very good running back. We are just going to play our game, 11 guys playing with speed to the ball on every snap. We want to rally to the football and focus on tackling this week.”
The Crocodiles are going into the penultimate game of the season after a close loss to the Wasa Royals last week. there are only two games remaining and Seinäjoki is jostling with two other teams for the final two playoff spots. Last week they were carried by Powell who ran for a whopping 352 yards and three touchdowns. The Crocodiles will need to be able to establish their run game again this week if they want to beat the Steelers. Powell on the matchup with the Steelers:
“We know that we just have to come out and play our game, be smart and put guys in the right position. Nothing fancy just do what we do.”
Defensively Seinäjoki’s secondary matches up well with the receiving core of the Steelers. Look for the Steelers running back Lamar Carswell to be the X factor on Saturday. In order to slow down Carswell the Crocodiles will need to linebackers Jaska Varinen and Saiduo Jallow to play well again this week. Varinen was the leading tackler with nine tackles on the game while Jallow contributed 2 tackles for a loss and a sack.
Saturday’s game will help shape the developing playoff picture in the Finnish Maple League. As the short season is wrapping up both teams are pushing to stack up wins. Look for the Crocodiles to try some trickery to upset the undefeated Steelers in Seinäjoki .
Watch the game live here. Kuopio Steelers @Seinäjoki Crocodiles, Aug. 22, 16:30 EEST (15:30 CET, 9:30 ET)
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Seinäjoki Crocodiles starting lineup and roster
Kuopio Steelers starting lineup and roster
