LIVESTREAM: Germany – Ingolstadt Dukes @Allgäu Comets, August 26, 3p (9a ET)

AFI | Allgau Comets | 08/26/2018

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Allgäu Comets (6-5) will play host to the Ingolstadt Dukes (4-7-1) Sunday, August 26 in a do-or-die German Football League game for the Dukes and a crucial test for Allgäu.

The Comets sit third in the GFL South standings but with four teams still in the hunt for the third and fourth playoffs berths in the conference they need a win today. Ingolstadt still has a chance to nab one of the two berths as do the Marburg Mercenaries and the Munich Cowboys. A win by Allgau would knock the Dukes out of contention. Should the sixth place Dukes win this game, they would creep closer.

The two teams met earlier in the season with Allgäu coming away with a 52-42 victory. Since then, the Comets have undergone major turmoil with the resignation of the entire coaching staff. They rebounded from that with a stirring victory against the Marburg Mercenaries, but last week were overwhelmed by the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns 65-23.

Comets QB Justin Sottilare is the overall German Football League passing leader with 3,777 yards and a league-best 40 TDs although he only had 88 yards passing in a loss to the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns last weekend. Sottilare has set a record for passing attempts in a game (84 against the Dukes), and still leads the GFL in average yards per game with 343.4. His receiving corps of Jordan Paul (2nd, 1,126 yds) , Martin Emos (6th, 833 yds), Jonatan Gihl (8th, 763 yds) and Féli Manoka (7th, 772 yds) are among the top 15 in Germany.

Ingolstadt has won two of their last three games. They beat Stuttgart last week 28-21 after defeating the Kirchdorf Wilcats 21-9 in the first game after the four week break. They lost to the league-leading Schwabisch Hall Unicorns 44-13 the week before.

Dukes QB Nelson Hughes III is averaging 210.7 yards a game, good for 6th overall in the GFL. He has thrown 27 touchdown passes in 12 games. His favorite targets are Anthony Mella, who has caught 43 passes for 768 and 12 touchdowns. Belgian receiver Robin De Ruyter caught 12 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown in the win against Stuttgart and now as 48 receptions for 593 yards and five touchdowns. Jan Hoschild who has 30 catches for 547 yards and five touchdowns. Jakob Wenzel leads the team in rushing with 392 yards.

Linebackers Patrick Engelhardt (67 tackles) and Cory Magwood (62) are the top tacklers for the Dukes and defensive back Sterry Codrington is a key in the secondary and along with 61 tackles has recorded three interceptions. Codrington also handles kickoff and punt return duties for the Dukes

This is a critical contest for both teams but a must-win game for the Dukes. In the loss to Allgau earlier in the season, Hughes still threw for 382 yards and six touchdowns. Look for him to come out throwing plenty again. Although Sottilare may not attempt 84 passes in this game like he did the last time these two teams played, expect him to put the Ingolstadt secondary to the test.