The Kiel Baltic Hurricanes (2-5) will host the Cologne Crocodiles (3-3) in this German Football League North matchup.
Both of these teams have explosive offenses so expect today to be a high-scoring event. Cologne and Kiel both lost close games last week and are eager to bounce back and fight for a chance at the playoffs. The Crocodiles defeated the Hurricanes back in week two 49-13. However, the Hurricanes have improved mightily since early June making this game one of the week’s premier matchups in Europe.
Today’s matchup features two of the best quarterbacks in the German Football League, as Kiel’s Joe Germinerio and Cologne’s Christian Strong have been putting up monster numbers through the season. Germinerio broke the GFL record for total offense putting up 661 total yards and seven touchdowns in a back and forth loss in Dresden. Catching six of his seven touchdowns was receiver Weston Carr. Carr had the majority of Germinerio’s passing yards putting up 355 yards (10 short of the single-game record) and six touchdowns on 18 catches in a truly spectacular game. Carr currently sits atop the receiving leader board with 982 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season. Benedict Engelmann and Tom Donovan are also legit weapons for Germinerio to lean on as defenses will key in on Carr. Today the Hurricanes offense looks to put up big numbers against a physical Cologne defense.
Cologne Crocodiles @ Kiel Baltic Hurricanes, August 14, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 9 am ET)
Kiel’s defense is lead by linebacker Darin Hungerford. Hungerford is the league’s leading tackler putting up almost 12 tackles a game. behind him, defensive backs Gerrit Hoeppner and Marian Baecker have the tough challenge of lining up against a potent Crocodile’s passing attack. Gerrit Hoeppner will have to step up and make things tough on Cologne’s quarterback with solid coverage. Hoeppner’s range in the defensive backfield has allowed him to make four pass break-ups and an interception this season.
Crocodiles quarterback Christian Strong has come to play this season, making a tremendous impact on the Cologne offense. Strong is throwing for 340 yards a game and has 21 touchdowns on the season, good for second and third in the league respectively. The Canadian passer’s big arm and solid decision-making are aided by two dynamic receivers in Aaron Jackson and Markell Castle. Jackson and Castle are far and away the leagues-best receiving duo combining for 1,546 yards and 18 touchdowns in only six games. In Cologne’s pass-happy offense the Crocodiles offensive line has played well. Led by veterans David Beale and Sven Breidenbach the Crocodiles line has kept Christian Strong upright this season, allowing him to make this one of the country’s most exciting offenses. Running back Dean Tanwani is the Crocodiles X factor putting up 419 total yards and four touchdowns in Coach Patrick Köpper’s air raid attack.
The Crocodiles defense is led by outside linebacker Martin Pinter. Pinter leads the GFL in tackles for a loss-making 14 stops behind the line this season, including five sacks. Cologne will need their defensive line to step up against Kiel otherwise they could have a long day watching the Hurricanes passing attack put up points. Defensive back Emory Polley and Dejvion Stewart have the tough task of slowing down Weston Carr and an explosive Kiel passing game.
This is one of the weekend’s best matchups as Kiel and Cologne are determined to get back in the win column with the playoff race heating up. Fans of offense should be smiling for 48 minutes as both team’s quarterbacks have put up MVP-like numbers this season, lighting up scoreboards across the GFL North. Look out for another high-scoring game as the first team to fifty might get the win today.
Kiel Baltic Hurricanes roster
Cologne Crocodiles roster
