The Ingolstadt Dukes (3-6-1) face a daunting task when they travel to Schwäbisch Hall to take on the only unbeaten team in the German Football League, the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (10-0), Europe #1, Saturday, August 11,.
The Unicorns easily defeated Ingolstadt earlier this year 45-7.
Schwäbisch Hall is coming of a gritty 12-9 come-from-behind win over the Frankfurt Universe last week. Frankfurt took a 9-0 first half lead but the Unicorns clawed their way back into the game taking a 10-9 lead in the third and sealing the win with a two-point defensive safety.
Schwäbisch Hall quarterback Marco Ehrenfried is the 7th leading passer in the GFL averaging 222.8 yards a game. . He has a bevy of excellent receivers led by Christian Hafels with 488 yards receiving and then Nathaniel Robitaille who has 37 catches for 462 yards and five touchdowns as well as . Running back Jerome Manyema has rushed for 471 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games. However, in the win against Frankfurt, Danny Washington carried the load with 88 yards rushing.
Photo: Manfred Löffler
Ingolstadt snapped a three-game losing streak last week, beating the Kirchdorf Wildcats 21-9. Nelson Hughes III threw for 237 yards and a touchdown in that game.
Hughes is averaging 231 yards a game, good for 5th overall in the GFL. He has thrown 25 touchdown passes in 10 games. His favorite targets are Anthony Mella, who has caught 39 passes for 694 and 11 touchdowns, and Lorenz Regler who has 26 catches for 530 yards and seven touchdowns, and Belgian receiver Robin De Ruyter with 28 receptions for 424 yards and three touchdowns. Jakob Wenzel leads the team in rushing with 301 yards.
Linebackers Patrick Engelhardt and Cory Magwood are the top tacklers for the Dukes and defensive back Sterry Codrington is a key in the secondary and along with 55 tackles has recorded three interceptions.
The Dukes could be in for a long afternoon in Optima Sportpark. The Unicorns boast the stingiest defense in the league giving up just under 10 points a game.