The undefeated Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (4-0), Europe #1, head into Ingolstadt, Germany to face the 1-2-1 Ingolstadt Dukes Saturday, May 26 at ESV Stadion in German Football League fifth round action.
The Unicorns top the standings in the GFL and have opened the 2018 season with four straight lopsided wins which extends their winning streak to 21-0 stretching back to last year. They have outscored their opponents, the Munich Cowboys, Allgäu Comets, Stuttgart Scorpions and Kirchdorf Wildcats 181-40.
However, the 29-0 win over the Wildcats was the most hard fought of the four. Kirchdorf held the Unicorns to nine points in the first half, their lowest first half total of the year. If Ingolstadt defensive coordinator Mike Wittman can figure out how Kirchdorf bottled up the Schwabisch Hall offense, the Dukes could surprise.
Unicorns quarterback Marco Ehrenfried is among the league leaders in passing averaging 291 yards a game while throwing 11 touchdown passes. Schwäbisch Hall wide receiver Tyler Rutenbeck is the third leading receiver in the league with 463 yards and four touchdown catches.
Defensively, the Unicorns look as solid as they did in winning the German title in 2017. The front seven is led bu defensive tackle David Bada who has sacked quarterbacks four times, good for second in Germany, while also recording eight tackles for loss.
The Ingolstadt offense is among the best in the league in passing with quarterback Nelson Hughes III averaging 276 yards a game, good for fourth overall. He has thrown 15 touchdown passes in four games. His favorite targets are Lorenz Regler who has 19 catches for 382 yards and five touchdowns, Anthony Mella, 13 for 231 and four touchdowns and Jan Hochschild with 12 receptions for 265 yards and three touchdowns. Hughes leads his team in rushing with 227 yards in four games.
Linebackers Cory Magwood and Patrick Engelhardt lead the team in tackles and defensive back Sterry Codrington is a key in the secondary.
Apparently, Ingolstadt has some player issues though. Eleven key players will be missing from the lineup according to reports.
Two notables are defensive tackle Paul Ziebart who was suspended in the loss to Frankfurt and defensive lineman, Johannes Zirngibl who is hurt but is leaving the team after receiving a college scholarship.
