In an intriguing matchup, the 5-2 Marburg Mercenaries head into Optima Sportpark in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany to take on the unbeaten Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (8-0) in German Football League South action June 30.
The Unicorns have cruised so far in the 2018 season and have been more or less unchallenged. The closest game they have had was a 17-7 victory over the Frankfurt Universe in a defensive struggle which saw the Unicorns take a 17-0 lead and then hold on.
This is the first meeting of the year between these two teams. In 2017, Schwabisch Hall won both games but the second one late in the year by a narrow 35-27 score.
Unicorns quarterback Marco Ehrenfried is 4th in passing in the GFL with 1,939 yards. His seasoned receiving corps includes Nathaniel Robitaille (361 yds/5 tds), Christian Hafels (444/4 tds) and Yannick Baumgartner (306/1td). Running back Jerome Manyema has rushed for 394 yards and seven touchdowns so far. Linebacker Nick Alfieri leads the team in tackles with 44. He anchors a defense which is the best in Germany against the run allowing a mere 14 yards rushing a game. The Unicorns ball-hawking secondary lead the country in interceptions with 16.
Marburg has signed yet another “new” quarterback in Zac Cunha from Minot State University of North Dakota (Div II). His predecessor, Robert Webber, lasted only one game and despite helping the team defeat Stuttgart, he left abruptly for personal reasons. Cunha threw for a total of 8,222 yards and 52 touchdowns for Minot State in his career there.
In the Mercenaries 30-24 win over Ingolstadt last week, Silas Nacita again filled in at quarterback throwing for 254 yards and also rushing for 121 yards. In other words, the Schwabisch Hall defense will have to keep Nacita in check. He has now won two games at quarterback and has proven he can throw the ball. The option play to Nacita may well be in the playbook today.
Despite the uncertainty and turnover at the quarterback position, Marburg has the fourth leading passing offense in the league with the third best passing efficiency mark.
Although the Unicorns are the favorites in this game, Marburg could surprise.