The Frankfurt Universe (7-1), Europe #5, will play host to arch rivals and defending German champions, the unbeaten Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (9-0), Europe #1, Sunday, August 5 in Frankfurt.
The last time these two teams met in Schwäbisch Hall, the Unicorns came away with a 17-7 victory.
Since then, Frankfurt, with new quarterback Andrew Ellfers behind center, has won three games in a row, two by lopsided scores against the Munich Cowboys (45-6) and the Allgau Comets (66-7). Ellfers has thrown for 873 yards and 10 touchdowns in three games and has the Universe offense rolling. Ellfers has outstanding receivers including David Giron and Tim Thomas. Giron has 705 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns while Thomas has caught 48 passes for 732 yards and nine touchdowns. Running back Anreas Betza, the French national team running back, has rushed for 481 yards and nine touchdowns so far in 2018. Justin Rodney has 56 carries for 297 yards and four touchdowns.
The two teams faced each other twice in 2017 with the Unicorns winning both games, the second one 18-14. The Universe suffered the same fate in 2016, their first in the GFL. Schwäbisch Hall beat them both times, each time by a touchdown.
Apart from Both the Unicorns and Universe have dominated their opposition so far in 2018. Schwäbisch Hallis averaging 40.3 points per game while allowing 9.7. The Universe is not far behind with a 38 scoring average while giving up a league best 9.6.
The two head coaches know each other well. Unicorns head coach Jordan Neuman, who took over in 2017, was a long-time assistant and offensive coordinator and has faced Frankfurt head coach Brian Caler many times over the years when he was with the Allgau Comets.
Schwäbisch Hall quarterback Marco Ehrenfried is the fifth leading passer in the GFL having thrown for 2,117 yards and 19 touchdowns. He has a bevy of excellent receivers led by Nathaniel Robitaille ho has 34 catches for 455 yards and five touchdowns as well as Christian Hafels with 474 yards receiving . Running back Jerome Manyema has rushed for 471 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games.
The Universe enter the game as the fourth best rushing team in Germany averaging 132.6 yards per game. but they have the best defense against the run allowing just 13 yards a game. Schwäbisch Hall is right behind only giving up 22 yards rushing a game.
Frankfurt boasts the best defense against the pass as well with a secondary that includes former Denver Bronco John Tidwell as well as Kweishi Brown. Cody Pastorino anchors a Unicorns secondary that has picked off 15 passes so far this year with Pastorino accounting for three of them.
