The Dresden Monarchs will play host to the Hildesheim Invaders in the German Football League semifinals in a battle between the number two and four teams in the GFL North.
The Monarchs disposed of the Straubing Spiders, the number three team in the GFL South, 35-6 in the GFL quarterfinals a week ago. Meanwhile, Hildesheim had a tougher task but came through, defeating the GFL South’s #1 team, the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, 31-28. In doing so, they broke the Unicorns streak of nine straight trips to the semifinals. The last time, Schwäbisch Hall missed the semifinals was in 2013.
The last time these two teams met was on August 4 when Dresden trampled the Invaders, beating them 45-16.
While the Monarchs entered the playoffs on a roll having lost just two games during the regular season, Hildesheim lost their last four games of season before beating the Unicorns.
Watch live PPV. Hildesheim Invaders @ Dresden Monarchs, Sept. 28, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 10 am EDT)
Dresden quarterback Brock Domann finished as the third leading passer in the GFL after throwing for 2,602 yards and 19 touchdowns. In last week’s quarterfinal win, he played only the first half of the game, giving way to backup Karé Lyles for the final two quarters. Domann’s favorite targets are Ricky Smalling (1,192 yards, 12 TDs), Jordy Torrededia (703 yards, 5 TDs) and tight end Ethan Janto (419 yards, 2 TDs). They are now joined by return specialist Macgarrett Kings who recently joined the team and can cause problems for the Invaders as an unknown factor. Running back Nico Barrow is dangerous from every position on the field. Last week, he rushed for 106 and two touchdowns against the Spiders.
Hildesheim quarterback Nelson Hughes completed 71% of his passes in last week’s win for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Although Rayshon Mills (1 catch for 93 yards, 1 TD) Matti Probst (4, 58 yds, 1 TD) and Pieter Solf (6, 54 yds, 1 TD) were his main targets last week, his go tos are usually Lennart Stukenborg and running back Jordan Grant. In other words, Hughes has plenty of firepower. Hughes himself finished among the top 15 rushers with 657 yards.
While the previous game between these two ended in a lopsided win for Dresden, this is a playoff game. Both head coaches, Greg Seamon of the Monarchs and Hildesheim’s Marcus Herford, are veterans of post season play. They know the stakes.
This one could come down to the wire.