LIVESTREAM Germany: Dresden Monarchs @ Marburg Mercenaries, May 21, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 9 am EDT)

AFI | American Football | 05/21/2023

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

By Brad Duff

The Marburg Mercenaries will host the Dresden Monarchs to open each team’s German Football League season on Sunday, May 21st.

After 11 years without regular season games between the North and South, each team will play an opponent from the opposing conference twice. With both teams struggling last season and going 4-6, this is sure to be a competitive matchup.

Although they started the season on a rocky path, losing six of seven games, the hiring of head coach Augie Stevens lifted the spirits of the Mercenaries fanbase; Stevens took Marburg on a three-game win streak to end the season, and started making key roster changes as soon as the season ended.

One of these changes included the introduction of a revamped QB room consisting of Danny Farley (USA, University of Wisconsin Stout, NCAA DIII) as well as quarterback/wide receiver Elliot Bodman (UK, Łaziska Górne Hammers). They also added a partnership of defensive backs Deyleon Williams (Midwestern State, NCAA DII) and Darius Lewis, who spent last season with the ELF’s Istanbul Rams. This will look to complement an already solid defensive unit led by Swiss linebacker Saury Heininger, American defensive back Logan Mobelini and defensive lineman Sadik Busch.

Marburg also re-signed American wideout Devon Smith, who led the team last year with 42 receptions for 625 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Dresden will also look to show off their newly imported players brought in by new head coach Paul Alexander, who spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets.

Some of the additions include quarterback Steven Duncan (Tarleton State, NCAA DI), wide receiver Austin Mitchell (Southeastern Louisiana NCAA DI) and defensive back Narrio Walks (Seton Hill NCAA DII).

Duncan will be joined in the backfield by a returning running back duo of David Baum and Yazan Nasser, who rushed for almost 1,200 yards combined last season.

The Monarchs also brought in a collection of British players in defensive lineman Max Parkinson (University of West England), wide receiver Tommy Wilson (Oxford Saints) and defensive back Joe Cassidy (Dickinson College, NCAA DIII, SGS College Pride). Although they will be making their first European appearances, all three players have a lot of athletic talent that will make them players to watch on Sunday.