LIVESTREAM: Germany – Berlin Rebels @Düsseldorf Panther, Sat. June 15, 5p CEDT (11a EDT)

| American Football | 06/15/2019

The 0-6 Düsseldorf Panther have returned to their home field of Stadion Benrath for only the second time this season when they play host to the 1-3 Berlin Rebels in the sixth weekend of play in the German Football League.

The Panther have dropped six in a row following last week’s 44-21 loss to the Cologne Crocodiles. The week before they were beaten by the HIidesheim Invaders 46-10. They had opened the season losing to the Monarchs 49-13, the Invaders 49-17 , Potsdam Royals, 34-17 and the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 37-17.

Panther quarterback Christian Strong (Seton Hill) has completed 129 of 233 passes for 1,276 yards and eight touchdowns with Féli Manoka as his leading receiver with 520 yards. He has tossed 11 interceptions however. Sergej Kendus is the team’s leading rusher but he has only carried the ball 41 times for 222 yards in six games and with 137 of those yards in one game against Potsdam. Khris Francis rushed for 75 yards in the loss to Cologne last week and is now Dusseldorf’s second leading running back.

The Rebels earned their first victory of the year last week, downing the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 33-13. They had suffered through a dismal opening to their 2019 season losing all three games, which they have not done since 2015 when they lost their first three games of the year en route to a 4-8 season.

The Rebels were beaten 30-17 in their opening game by the Potsdam Royals in Potsdam, and then they dropped a 29-12 decision to the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions. Last week, the Hildesheim Invaders proved too much for the 2018 German quarterfinalists, beating them 56-41.

Berlin’s new quarterback, Kurt Palandech, rotated with regular quarterback Terrell Robinson in last week’s win over Kiel. He completed 13 of 18 passes for 130 yards and rushed for another. Robinson engineered one of the touchdown drives but also caught four passes for 31 yards.  He has thrown for 653 yards and three touchdowns.  TJ Esekielu as the leading receiver with 20 catches for 324 yards and two touchdowns. The running game which was the strength of the team, came alive in the game against the Invaders, but againwas used sparingly against Kiel. In all, the Rebels only rushed 13 times with Andreas Betza rushing for a total of 35 yards bringing his total to 190 for the year.

Berlin’s special teams had a huge game last week, blocking two punts both for touchdowns with Paul Morant scoring one and Maciej Jaroszewski the other.

The Panther are playing at home which will give them an advantage. If they can figure out the quarterbacking rotation of the Rebels, they could have a chance in finding the win column for the first time this year.

Watch the game live here. Berlin Rebels @Düsseldorf Panther, Sat. June 15, 5p CEDT (11a EDT)

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