LIVESTREAM: Germany – Kiel Baltic Hurricanes @Dresden Monarchs, May 26, 6p (12p EST)
The unbeaten, 3-0 Dresden Monarchs, Europe #9, will play host to the struggling 1-3-1 Kiel Baltic Hurricanes at DDV Stadion in the German Football League, Saturday, May 26.
The Monarchs have opened with season with three straight wins, two against the Potsdam Royals, 45-34 and 42-24 ,while also disposing of the Hamburg Huskies 42-6. Kiel, meanwhile, has managed just one win in four outings, beating the Huskies in the second game. Although they tied the Cologne Crocodiles last week, they have lost to the Crocodiles, Berlin Rebels and New Yorker Lions and are already looking at a battle just to make the playoffs.
Dresden enters the game as the third highest scoring team in the GFL and fifth best defensively. In particular, the Monarchs passing attack is potent, with quarterback Trenton Norvell averaging 347 yards passing and four touchdowns per game., good for second in Germany. His top receiver, Mitchell Paige, leads the league in receiving yardage, averaging 137.3 yards per game.
For Kiel, newly-signed quarterback Lenorris Footman stepped in last week in place of Chad Turner and threw one touchdown pass to Jean-Claude Madin Cerezo and also scored on a 62 yard run to pace the Hurricanes and help them salvage a tie with the Cologne Crocodiles. Running back Khris Francis rushed for 95 yards last week as well.
The key for the Hurricanes will be to stymie the Dresden passing attack. So far, in five games, Kiel’s pass defense has been good, allowing opponents 182 yards per game. If the Hurricanes can gain control of the air, they have a chance in this one.