The Braunschweig New Yorker Lions (9-1), Europe #2, will face the Hildesheim Invaders (3-7) Saturday, August 18 at Einstracht Stadion in Braunschweig in German Football League action.
The is the second meeting between these two teams this year. The Lions overwhelmed Hildesheim 51-6 three months ago in Hildesheim.
The Lions enter the game on a five-game winning streak after beating the Cologne Crocodiles twice in a row as well as the Dresden Monarchs and the Potsdam Royals two times in comfortable fashion. In their only loss this year, Braunschweig were surprised by the Berlin Rebels in mid June, losing 24-21.
Braunschweig has the highest scoring offense in Germany averaging 41.3 points a game, while their defense allows just 11.3 points a game, good for third in the GFL.
Jadrian Clark of the Lions is one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country having completed 148 of 252 passes for 2,362 yards and 32 touchdowns against only six interceptions. His favorite target is Justus Holtz who has 586 yards receiving while Nicolai Schumann has 422 yards receiving. In fact, Clark has completed passes to 16 different receivers so far this season.
Interestingly, the Lions have the highest rushing offense in Germany with 1,700 yards in total team rushing but without a player in the top 10 in overall yardage. Braunschweig’s leading rusher is David McCants with 466 yards. However, Chris McClendon returned from injury two games ago and is already making his mark. He has rushed for 227 yards in two games and together with McCants forms a deadly backfield pair.
The Braunschweig defense is anchored by linebackers Roni Salonen and Anthony Darkangelo as well as defensive backs Tim Unger, Tissi Robinson and Darius Robinson and sack leader Jakob Schridde. They allow an average of 62.5 yards against the run and 138.2 against the pass.
The Invaders had won three games in a row before being brought down to earth by the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes last week. Kiel won 37-15.
In last week’s game, Invaders quarterback Tyler Johnson completed just 15 of 35 passes for 130 yards and found himself under pressure the entire game. The week before he had scored the winning touchdown against Kiel with less than a minute to play to secure the victory and keep Hildesheim’s hopes alive. In that contest, Johnson only completed 11 of 30 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown, but he rushed for 80 yards and the winning score. Newly-signed running back Jaleel Awini (formerly with the Frankfurt Universe in 2017) scored the other touchdown on a seven yard pass from Johnson.
Before losing to the Hurricanes a week ago, The Invaders had won three in a row. They won the last two games before the four week GFL break including a stunning 14-0 shut out of the Potsdam Royals on July 7. The addition of Johnson, clearly helped the team. In his first game with the Invaders, he completed 16 of 26 passes for 119 yards in three quarters of play while rushing for one touchdown. Awini rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown while catching five passes for 51 yards.
However, against the Lions defense, Hildesheim will be put to the test.
Watch the game live. Hildesheim Invaders @Braunschweig New Yorker Lions, August 18, 4p (10a ET)
