The defending German Bowl champions the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions, will take on the Berlin Rebels as both squads will open their season today. These two teams know each other well as they’ve battled it out for playoff position for years in the competitive GFL North. These rivals are eager to start 2021 season off of the right foot.
For the Berlin Rebels, they head into the season lead by former Boston College & Bowling Green (NCAA D1) quarterback Darius Wade. Wade will be looking for receiver Jordan Paul this season as Paul comes to Berlin after two seasons with the Allgäu Comets. Speedy French running back Andreas Betza brings another dimension to this offense as the elusive running back was one of the league’s most productive backs with over 1,157 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2019.
Berlin Rebels @ Braunschweig New Yorker Lions, June 12, 18:00 CET (6 pm, 12 noon ET)
Defensively, the Rebels captain, linebacker Rory Johnson, is back for his 10th season with the squad. The former Green Bay Packer and New York Giant has been one of the German Football League’s top tacklers year in and year out since joining the Rebels. Two new faces on this defense are British defensive tackle Remi Daniels and Canadian defensive back James McCullom who played in nearby Potsdam in 2019.
The New Yorker Lions look to defend their title in 2021 with a much different roster than the one that hoisted the German Bowl back in 2019. Jake Kennedy comes in as the team’s signal caller after a fantastic career at Whittenberg University (NCAA D3) and one season in the Austrian Football League with the Graz Giants. Much of the Lions offensive line returns along with receivers Paul Bogdan, 2019 GFL All-Star Christian Bollmann, and tight end Nikolas Roemer.
Defensively, 10th year head coach Troy Tomlin has brought in newcomers Xavier Edwards and Deshawn Benton (Eastern Carolina NCAA D1) as his American imports. Benton is a true defensive back while Edwards has had success playing a plethora of positions in his career. On the defensive line Georg Burgmeister and 2019 GFL All-Star Samuel Kragel return to rush opposing quarterbacks. Behind them linebacker David David Muller will hold down the middle of the defense.
The last time these two teams met was in 2019 when the Lions took both games between them, 29-12 and 34-9.
This game should give fans a great look at how the defending champions Lions after not playing in 2020. Fans can expect a passionate hard-fought game as these two teams have had some epic battles in their long history together in the GFL.
Watch the game live here. Berlin Rebels @ Braunschweig New Yorker Lions, June 12, 18:00 CET (6 pm, 12 noon ET)
New Yorker Lions roster
