LIVESTREAM GERMANY: Potsdam Royals @ Dresden Monarchs, September 5,15:00 CET (3 pm, 9 am ET)
The Dresden Monarchs (8-1) will host the Potsdam Royals (7-2) in this vital first-place match-up in the GFL North as the German Football League regular season winds up.
Both teams have had fantastic regular seasons and could claim the GFL North’s top seed with the right performance today. Dresden beat Potsdam earlier this season 31-16 so because of their similar records Potsdam would need to beat Dresden by 16 points to seize the GFL North top seed. If they can’t achieve that they’ll settle second seed and a home game against the number three team from the GFL South.
Dresden’s offense is the league’s second-highest scoring averaging 42 points per game. The Monarch’s passing attack is truly unstoppable as quarterback KJ Carta-Samuels has dominated his peers throwing for a league-leading 3,013 yards and 41 touchdowns. The former top high school recruit has been able to put on a show in his first season in Germany routinely finding European talent in Robin Wilzeck and Radim Kalous, as well as American receivers Darrell Stewart Jr (Michigan State NCAA D1) and Anthony Brooks (Worcester State NCAA D3). On the ground, the Monarchs recently added dual UK–USA passport running back Devwah Whaley. Whaley is an experienced back who ran for 1,814 total yards at the highest level of college football as a member of the Arkansas Razorbacks (NCAA D1 SEC). The talent of the Monarchs aims to continue to mesh as the coach Ulrich Dauber has his teams’ goals set on the German Bowl.
Potsdam Royals @ Dresden Monarchs, September 5,15:00 CET (3 pm, 9 am ET)
Dresden’s defense also had talent but has yet to hit its stride in the same way as its offense. Today against a run-heavy Potsdam team expect former Oregon University (NCAA D1) captain Apelu Kaulana to be busy today in the middle of the Dresden defense. Swiss safety Timothy Hagmann patrols centerfield looking to take away the deep ball from the Royals passing game. Dresden’s defense also got a boost this week as they added linebacker AJ Wentland. Wentland starred for the Monarchs in 2018 and 2019 leading the GFL in tackles both seasons. According to the Monarchs, Wentland will be working with the team as a player and coach.
The Potsdam Royals make the drive to Dresden looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss in Braunschweig last week. The Royals have ridden a strong run game to an impressive record this season however they have struggled to find consistency in the passing game averaging only 127 passing yards a game third-worst in the league. Running back Jake Mayon leads the league with 1,419 yards and 20 touchdowns averaging a staggering 158 yards per game. Despite the league’s best running game, Mayon will need some help from his quarterbacks if the Potsdam offense is to take the next step. Quarterbacks PJ Settles and Giovanni Resigno have split time this season with Settles taking the majority of the snaps. If Potsdam passing game doesn’t show improvement the Royals could leave the playoffs early.
Defensively the Royals have the league’s third-best scoring defense allowing only 14 points a game. The fierce pass rush of Swede Malcolm Engstroem and OJ Thompson has helped Potsdam put up 23 total sacks second best in the league. Swiss linebacker Lukas Ruoss however in without a doubt the difference-maker on this unit. The former Beidji State (NCAA D2) defender has made 33 tackles, four sacks, and an interception this season. In the secondary Abu Daramy-Swaray have a tough task of containing a long list of dangerous Monarchs pass catchers. If the Royal’s pass rush can get home they could have a chance of causing turnovers and getting the win today.
In one of the best matchups of the weekend, fans can expect both teams to play hard in their regular-season finale. Both the Monarchs and Royals have had great seasons and would love nothing more to validate that with the number one seed in the GFL North. Expect big plays, passion, and jaw-dropping plays from two of the most exciting teams in the German Football League.
