The 8-0 Braunschweig New Yorker Lions, Europe #2, travel to Kiel Saturday, August 3 to face the 2-5-1 Kiel Baltic Hurricanes in German Football League action.
This is the first meeting between the two this season.
Kiel is struggling through another sub par season and last week lost to the Hildesheim Invaders 27-7. Braunschweig on the other hand, are definitely aiming for another championship run.
The Hurricanes have had a tough year although they got by the Dusseldorf Panther 20-10 just before the break. Before tying the Potsdam Royals 28-28 they were tripped up by the Cologne Crocodiles 13-12 despite holding the lead the entire game, giving up the tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter. They had dropped a 33-14 decision to the Berlin Rebels before losing 48-28 to the Crocodiles. Kiel lost their first game of the season to the Dresden Monarchs 42-14 and then downed the Dusseldorf Panther 37-17 in the other game.
Hurricanes QB Jake Purichia has thrown for 1,519 yards and 11 touchdowns but tossed eight interceptions in eight games. Wide receiver Lukas Rehder has caught 29 passes for 448 yards. However, running back Julian Ampaw who has 340 yards rushing and six touchdowns did not play against the Lions last week so it is questionable as to whether he will be in the lineup today. The Hurricanes’ new WR Markell Castle now has 214 yards and four touchdowns in four games.
Braunschweig has won its eight opening games and last week took care of the Berlin Rebels 34-9. They had a thrilling 35-28 win over the previously unbeaten Hildesheim Invaders just before the break. They had downed the Cologne Crocodiles in a back-to-back series, 23-6 and 45-7, and then took care of the Rebels, the only team that defeated them in the regular season last year. Early in June, the Lions won a thriller, beating the previously unbeaten Dresden Monarchs 34-31 and also walked all over the Potsdam Royals, 46-7.
The Lions offense has been effective with QB Brandon Connette throwing for just 1,190 yards in the eight games. The backfield duo of Chris McClendon (592 yds) and David McCants (256 yds) along with Connette (439 yds) give the Lions the best rushing attack in the GFL averaging 169.2 yards a game. Wide receivers Nicolai Schumann (274 yds), Justus Hotz (247 yds) and Christian Bollmann with 234 yards receiving lead the team.
Braunschweig has one of the top three best defenses in the GFL and has only allowed opponents an average of 235.4 yards of offense a game. Braunschweig has the third best pass defenses in the GFL giving up just 174.6 yards a game.
The Hurricanes could be in for a long day today.
