The Berlin Rebels (0-1) will play host to the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions (1-1-0) as the German Football League kicks off its third weekend of play in the 2022 regular season.
The two teams met twice in 2021 with Braunschweig winning both games, 31-0 and 29-22.
In their matchup with the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes last week, the Lions carried a 14-0 lead into the fourth quarter but conceded a pair of touchdowns and came out with a disappointing tie
Berlin opened the season with a tough 43-36 loss to crosstown rivals, the Berlin Adler, in a game which saw the Rebels take a 36-35 lead midway through the fourth quarter only to surrender two late scores. Meanwhile, the Lions were held to a 14-14 tie by the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes to open the season in a game in which they also gave up two late touchdowns, but rebounded last week by defeating the Cologne Crocodiles 27-14.
Braunschweig is looking to reassert itself as a powerhouse in the GFL after a disappointing 2021 season which saw them bounced from the quarterfinals after barely making the playoffs.
Lions quarterback Jacob Parks has thrown for 429 yards and four touchdowns in the two games with Isaiah Woods catching seven passes for a team-high 125 yards and one touchdown. Tamsir Seck had 13 receptions for 80 yards. British running back Emmanuel Ebedi-Bawa has rushed for 158 yards in the two games.
New defensive coordinator Jim Ward has clearly had an impact as the Lions are the top defense in the GFL in points allowed and best against the rush while being second best against the pass.
For the Rebels, quarterback Donovan Isom threw for 299 yards and four touchdowns in his only outing so far this year with Robert Downs III as his main target. The New Mexico State product hauled in five passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns. For Berlin to have an impact in the passing game, the running attack has to improve. Running back Meril Zero gained only 39 yards on the ground against the Adler two weeks ago, more than half of the team’s 76 rushing yards in total.
Defensively, French safety Daniel Docal led the team with nine tackles while veteran linebacker Rory Johnson was close behind with eight. Berlin
This game could set the tone for the rest of the season for both teams. Will the Rebels shake off a poor 2021 season and get back into playoff contention, or will Braunschweig prove that the mediocre showing (for them) last season was simply a temporary aberration?
Braunschweig New Yorker Lions roster
