The Frankfurt Universe, (GFL South #2), Europe #5, play host to the Berlin Rebels (GFL North #3), Europe #6, in the most anticipated quarterfinal matchup of the playoff weekend in the German Football League.
The 12-2 Universe could be the dark horse in the race for the German Football League title after losing only two games all year, both to the Unicorns and both in close defensive games. They have looked impressive down the stretch and are legitimate contenders. However, they are playing an 11-3 Berlin Rebels team who have also looked extremely good in the last half of the season and could also have a legitimate claim to the GFL crown. This could be the best game of the quarterfinal round. Berlin won seven of the last eight games including a win over the New Yorker Lions.
Frankfurt has also been on a roll for the past month winning five in a row. Quarterback Andrew Ellfers has been behind center now for eight wins including back-to-back wins against the Wildcats and the gritty 26-19 win over the Marburg Mercenaries a month ago. The week before, Ellfers and the Universe suffered a tough loss to the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns. Ellfers has thrown for 2,112 yards and 22 touchdowns in nine games. David Giron has returned after missing four of those games, and has 68 receptions for 797 yards. George Robinson has returned to form and had 51 yards receiving and 2 TDs in Frankfurt’s 55-14 pasting of the Allgau Comets. Running back Anreas Betza, the French national team running back, has rushed for 728 yards and 12 touchdowns so far in 2018. Joe Bergeron has also returned and has 441 yards on 70 carries and together with Justin Rodney gives Frankfurt a potent backfield.
Berlin downed the Hildesheim Invaders two weeks ago 38-0 for their seventh win in the past eight games. Berlin was flying high after handing the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions their second defeat last month, beating them 23-14. Quarterback Terrell Robinson rushed for 168 yards in that game, confounding the powerful Lions defense time and again.
The Rebels have relied on their defense this year and are one of the top defensive teams in the German Football League, sitting fourth giving up 16.2 points and 297 yards a game.
Holland’s Sean Richard leads the Rebels in rushing and he finished fourth in the league with 1,018 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 7.3 yards a carry. Although he had struggled for a few games, in the final two games of the regular season, he rushed for 274 yards and four touchdowns. Quarterback Terrell Robinson is the wild card as he can explode both in the air and on the ground. So far, he has 658 yards rushing while also passing for 2,177 yards and 17 TDs. Richard is also the leading receiver for Berlin with 592 yards receiving.
This is definitely the game to watch in Europe. Two of the elite teams will be going head to head. Last year, the Rebels were eliminated in the quarterfinal round by the eventual champions, the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns, in overtime. Frankfurt reached the semifinals in 2017 and lost a heartbreaker to the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions, 23-21.
The season is on the line today at PSD Bank Arena stadium in Frankfurt.
