The Dresden Monarchs (10-2) and the #2 seed in the GFL North, will host the GFL South’s third place team, the Straubing Spiders (7-5) at Heinz-Steyer-Stadion in Dresden as the German Football League enters the quarterfinal round.
The Monarchs dropped just two games during the season losing to the Potsdam Royals 40-19 after leading 7-6 at the half, and surprisingly 19-16 to the Berlin Rebels late in the season. They wound up the regular season by beating the GFL South’s number one team, the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 21-12 but in a game that was more or less just a tune up for the playoffs.
Dresden boasts one of the best defenses in the GFL allowing just 13 points a game while scoring an average of almost 31. They demolished the #4 team in the GFL South, the Allgäu Comets, 69-21, in the second last game of the regular season.
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The Monarchs offense will likely be led by quarterback Brock Domann who returns after serving a two-game suspension. Still, Karé Lyles was solid in relief starting in both games and may also start. Nevertheless, Domann was the third leading passer in the GFL after throwing for 2,687 yards and 22 touchdowns in 10 games. His favorite target is Ricky Smalling who has 64 catches for 1,102 yards and 21 touchdowns while Jordi Torrededia has 49 receptions for 667 yards and five touchdowns and tight end Ethan Janto has 33 receptions for 406 yards and a score. Running back Nico Barrow is the ninth leading rusher in the GFL with 695 yards and 13 touchdowns on 113 carries.
The Spiders slipped into the playoffs by winning their final two games of the regular season, leapfrogging both the Munich Cowboys and fourth place Allgäu Comets.
Luis Wittmann is the main quarterback for the Spiders although backup Alexander Biebl has seen a fair amount of action. Wittmann has thrown for 1,924 yards in the 11 games he has started. Colton Smith has 45 catches for 665 yards. Running back Kamal Cass finished as the third leading rusher in the GFL in overall yardage with 1,021 yards, and in average per game with 85.1.
This will be a tough game for Straubing. The Monarchs have not lost a home game all year.