LIVESTREAM Finland Semifinal: Seinäjoki Crocodiles @ Helsinki Wolverines Sept. 3, 17:30 CET, (5:30 pm, 11:30 am ET)

| American Football | 09/03/2022

In a highly anticipated grudge match, the Seinäjoki Crocodiles will visit the Helsinki Wolverines in this second and third-seed playoff matchup in Finland’s Maple League. These two teams had epic battles in the regular season and now look to face each other for a third time with a title shot on the line.

The Wolverines pulled off a two-point 36-34 win in the final seconds in week eight, only to have the Crocodiles steal the rematch with a five-point 25-20 victory on the road in week 12.

Wolverines quarterback Jabari Harris hopes fellow veteran RJ Long, former CFL Global Draft pick Sebastian Sagne, Martin Emos, Matias Tuominen, and running back William Young often today against an up-and-down Crocodiles secondary. Harris has been one of the league’s most dynamic players once again this season putting up 2,607 total yards and 41 total touchdowns, using both his legs and his arm. 

LIVESTREAM Finland Semifinal: Seinäjoki Crocodiles @ Helsinki Wolverines Sept. 3, 17:30 CET, (5:30 pm, 11:30 am ET)

Helsinki defensive backs Eric Irvin, Curtis Slater, and Darius Lewis match up well with the Crocodiles receivers. In the trenches, Helsinki’s defensive line features James Perrineau, Ville Valasti, Benjamin Egbudiwe, and Jonis Heikkinen if these big boys can hold the line and contain running back Christian Powell the Wolverines have a good chance of advancing to the Maple Bowl. 

The Seinäjoki Crocodiles will look to fourth-year running back Christian Powell to lead them to the Maple Bowl. Powell is a former Colorado Buffalo (NCAA D1) who spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers before coming to Finland. He’s been one of the league’s best ball carriers since 2018. This season he’s put up 1,139 yards and 19 total touchdowns in the Crocodiles run-based offense. When passing look for quarterback Zachary Whitehead to target Finnish talents such as Joel Sarkela and Anttoni Lampivuo.

Defensively the Crocodiles will try to contain dual-threat quarterback Jabari Harris with their talented defensive line. That unit features. Former “Last Chance U” star and University of Tennessee (NCAA DI) defensive lineman Emmit Gooden along with Arthur Pinheiro, Seth Zins, and NFL International Combine invite Fillip Zacok. Gooden has shown off his once coveted talents, putting up an impressive 49 tackles, eight and half sacks, a blocked a kick, and one defensive touchdown since arriving late to Seinäjoki. If he and other Crocodiles standouts like linebackers Saido Jallow and Jaaska Varinen can have big games, Expect to see the Crocodiles in the maple bowl for the first time since 2016. 

LIVESTREAM Finland Semifinal: Seinäjoki Crocodiles @ Helsinki Wolverines Sept. 3, 17:30 CET, (5:30 pm, 11:30 am ET)

Alex is a former NCAA and semi-pro American football player who is now located in London, where he works in digital marketing. His goal in writing for AFI is to stay involved with the game that has given him so much. Alex enjoys covering leagues and