The Marburg Mercenaries (5-4), Europe #20 will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak when they host the Frankfurt Universe (7-2), Europe #5, at George Gassmann Stadion in Marburg, Germany, Sunday August 12.
With the German Football League heading into the final third of the season, every game becomes crucial and this one is no exception. Marburg has lost two in a row and has dropped to fourth in the GFL South standings, ahead of a surging Munich Cowboys team. Frankfurt lost a heartbreaker to the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns last week and sits second.
Frankfurt manhandled the Mercenaries early in the season, beating them 63-7, but the Mercenaries have had a couple of changes in quarterback since then with the latest being Zac Cunha from Minot State. Cunha made his debut last week in a loss to the Allgau Comets, completing 26 of 46 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He replaced Mr. All-Everything for the Mercenaries, Silas Nacita who had stepped in after the former “new” quarterback, Robert Webber, left suddenly after one game. Nacita engineered a win over the Comets putting on an offensive display playing at quarterback Nacita then led Marburg to a win over the Ingolstadt Dukes and was also behind center in the final game before the break, a loss to the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns. Nacita was also the primary receiver last week against Allgau with six receptions for 71 yards.
Nacita leads the Mercenaries in rushing with 471 yards and four touchdowns, has thrown for 584 yards and 10 touchdowns and has caught 40 passes for 581 yards and six touchdowns. He has also returned seven punts for 117 yards and a touchdown and 15 kickoffs for 414 yards. Andrecus Lindley is second on the team in rushing with 222 yards.
In other words, Frankfurt, for whom Nacita played in 2017, will need to keep him in check.
In Frankfurt, new quarterback Andrew Ellfers has been behind center for three wins and last week’s tough loss to the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns. Ellfers has thrown for 1,064 yards and 11 touchdowns in four games. He has a corps of outstanding receivers including David Giron and Tim Thomas. Giron has 724 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns while Thomas has caught 56 passes for 816 yards and 10 touchdowns. Running back Anreas Betza, the French national team running back, has rushed for 438 yards and nine touchdowns so far in 2018. Justin Rodney has 58 carries for 304 yards and four touchdowns.
Despite the uncertainty and turnover at the quarterback position, Marburg has the fifth leading passing offense in the league with the fourth best passing efficiency mark.
Watch the game live here. Frankfurt Universe #5 @Marburg Mercenaries #20, August 12, 4p CET (10a ET)
