The Örebro Black Knights (5-0) will play host to the defending and seven-time champion 5-0 Carlstad Crusaders in a classic Friday Night Football matchup which likely be a preview of the Swedish championship game.
A large crowd is expected at Örebro’s Behrn Arena for the first game between these two teams this year.
The Black Knights may be the slight favorites in a game featuring the two best offenses and two best defenses in Sweden. Örebro has scored 264 points in five games while the Crusaders are right behind with 245. The Black Knights defense has allowed a mere six points while Carlstad has given up 40.
The Black Knights offense is led by quarterback Corbin Lawler who is third in passing yardage with 764 yards and 11 touchdowns. Carlstad quarterback Philip Juhlin has thrown for 1,156 yards and 14 touchdowns, good for second overall in the league.
Black Nights RB Kasper Wedberg fights his way to a 1st down Photo: MAVFoto
Juhlin has an excellent receiving corps featuring Marcus Johnsson, Jacob Dahre and Alpha Jollah. They will definitely put the Black Knights secondary to the test.
One bonus for Lawler in this game is the addition of national team receiver Fredik “Ice” Isaksson. The former Tyreso Royal Crowns and Carlstad Crusaders star receiver is suiting up for Örebro and will present a challenge for his former teammates. And veteran receiver Johan Stål is always dangerous.
Örebro relies heavily on the run game with running backs Kasper Wedberg and Marcus Hudritsch leading the league. Wedberg has rushed for 372 yards and eight touchdowns so far while Hudritsch is right behind with 352 yards and three touchdowns to his credit. Carlstad’s Victor Toresson sits in fourth with 253 yards rushing and teammate Chrstian Forsman is in fifth with 211 yards and six touchdowns.
Carlstad WR Jacob Dahre Photo: Moses Sh
Defensively the Black Knights are led by linebackers Eric and Josh Murphy and Filip Jönsson. The secondary relies on Danny Wynne at safety along with Sebastian Gauthier, Johan Lindahl and Peder Jungstedt.
Eric Murphy, in his third season with the Black Knights, is aware of the importance of this game:
“We haven’t really been challenged this season so this game is huge for us. We have to stop their passing game. But we have to overcome the “Carlstad complex” we seem to have in big games against them. We match up well against them though so this will be a great game.”
Carlstad’s defense is anchored by linebacker Christian Kuylenstjerna and Mattias Eriksson who leads the team with 20.5 tackles overall. The secondary is led by new arrival Alpha Jollah who has had an impact. He had two interceptions in the loss to the Helsinki Roosters before being sidelines with cramps. He will be healthy for this game according to head coach Tracey Gere.
Keep an eye out for Carlstad defensive lineman Olof Flemstrom in this matchup, the Örebro offensive line will have their hands full with last year’s league MVP.
Kickoff is 6:30 pm (12:30 EDT) and the game is being broadcast live on CMore in Sweden (PPV) and shown in a tape delay at 10:20 pm on TV4.
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