LIVESTREAM: Germany – Kirchdorf Wildcats @Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, Sept. 8, 5p (11a ET)

AFI | American Football | 09/08/2018

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The top team in Europe, unbeaten in their last 30 games, the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (13-0) will play host to the Kirchdorf Wildcats (3-9-1) at Optima Sportpark in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany, Saturday, September 8 in the final weekend of play in the German Football League regular season.

Schwäbisch Hall blanked the Wildcats 29-0 in the only other meeting between the two teams this year.

Schwäbisch Hall has been a machine this season although last week against a desperate Marburg Mercenaries team, they were pushed to the limit, finally downing Marburg 34-31 after trailing in the fourth quarter. Two weeks ago, they overpowered the Allgau Comets 65-23 and the week before also displayed their firepower in handing the Ingolstadt Dukes a 44-13 thrashing. They notched a gritty 12-9 come-from-behind win over the Frankfurt Universe in August.

The Unicorns have the top offense in the German Football League averaging almost 40 points a game, and the third best defense giving up just 12.5.

Schwäbisch Hall quarterback Marco Ehrenfried is the 6th leading passer in the GFL averaging 223 yards a game. . He has a corps of excellent receivers including Tyler Rutenbeck with 691 yards in receptions and six touchdowns. He is averaging almost 77 yards a game. Running back Maurice Schüle leads the Unicorns with 560 yards rushing.

The Unicorns are the epitome of stable. And they find ways to win. They have not lost a game since October 8, 2016 (2016 German Bowl).

The Wildcats have lost their last four games but as the newest team to the German Football League have showed signs of promise and will survive their first season (thanks to a tie with the Ingolstadt Dukes, Stuttgart cannot catch them). They have undergone turmoil on their roster, especially at the quarterback position. Original Wildcats quarterback Cameron Birse was sent home by the club for undisclosed reasons so backup Tom Schmidtke is finishing the season at quarterback. Schmidtke has started the last five games, the losses to the Universe, Munich Cowboys and Ingolstad Dukes and the win against Munich. Clemens Erlsbacher is the leading target with 807 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. He is followed by Brandon Cox with 43 catches for 548 yards. Running back Alex Braunsperger leads the team in rushing with 615 yards on 183 carries.