LIVESTREAM: Germany – Braunschweig New Yorker Lions @Dresden Monarchs, June 23, 3p (9a EST)
The 6-1 Dresden Monarchs will welcome the 4-1 Braunschweig New Yorker Lions to Heinz-Steyer-Stadion in Dresden, Germany Saturday, June 23 in German Football League North action.
The Monarchs are coming off a narrow 34-31 win over the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes last week which saw them score three second half touchdowns to pull out the win. Braunschweig on the other handed were handed their first loss of the season. The Berlin Rebels beat them 26-21 to earn their first win over the Lions in Braunschweig since 2012.
The Monarchs lost to Berlin as well, three weeks ago, when they were handed a 30-7 defeat in Berlin.
Still, the Lions have the second leading offense in Germany and the toughest defense scoring an average of 39.6 points a game while giving up just seven. Dresden scores at a rate of 37.3 but allows more points per game, 22.
Trenton Norvell of the Monarchs is the 2nd leading passer in the league with 2,039 yards and 22 touchdown passes. However, he has thrown 11 interceptions. His leading receiver, Mitchell Paige tops the league in overall yardage with 916 yards in seven games and 130.9 yards per game. He will test the Lions secondary who were burned early last week against Berlin.
Glenn Toonga is the leading rusher for Dresden having rushed for 355 yards and three touchdowns in seven games although much of that has come in the last two games. He had 148 yards rushing in the win over Kiel and 53 when Dresden beat Hildesheim. In other words, he is on a roll.
Lions quarterback Jadrian Clark has thrown for 1,129 yards and 16 touchdowns in five games and only three interceptions. That could be a key factor in this game. However, Braunschweig does not have a single receiver in the top 10 in overall yardage or average yards per game. Christian Bollmann leads his team with 325 yards receiving (65 yards/game) and five touchdowns. Niklas Romer is getting back into form after missing a couple of games but Anthony Dable-Wolf did not play against Berlin. If he returns to the lineup, he could make things more difficult for the Monarchs secondary. In the only game he has played, he had four catches for 75 yards and a touchdown against the Hamburg Huskies.
The question today will be if Braunschweig’s defense can keep the big plays to a minimum against a Monarchs team that has the ability to score quickly and in bunches. Last week, Berlin caught the Lions secondary napping early in the game, scoring three big touchdowns in the first quarter.
No doubt that will not happen again today.
Watch the game live here. Braunschweig New Yorker Lions @Dresden Monarchs, June 23, 3p (9a EST)
