LIVESTREAM Germany: Potsdam Royals @ Hildesheim Invaders, Aug. 17, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 10 am EDT)

AFI | American Football | 08/17/2024

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Hildesheim Invaders (7-2) will play host to the Potsdam Royals (9-0) August 17 as the German Football League heads into the final three weeks of the regular season.

Potsdam defeated the Invaders 56-21 on the opening weekend of the 2024 regular season.

After dropping that opening game to the Royals, the Invaders won seven straight before losing 45-16 to the Dresden Monarchs two weeks ago. They beat the Berlin Adler 49-42, the Berlin Rebels 36-19, Paderborn Dolphins 50-31 and the Ravensburg Razorbacks in overtime 31-30. They then downed the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 43-34 before whipping the Kirchdorf Wildcats 56-7. They were pushed by the Berlin Adler but came away with a narrow 38-36 victory on July 27.

Potsdam has looked more than impressive so far this year. Although they are coming off a modest 29-15 victory over the Berlin Adler, the margin of victory in their other eight wins has been a phenomenal 48 points while averaging 62.5 points a game. Just prior to the Adler game, they destroyed the Allgäu Comets 96-14. To open the season, they defeated in succession, the Hildesheim Invaders 56-21, Berlin Adler 58-0, Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 56-23 and the Berlin Rebels 74-20. They then used a strong second half to down the second place Dresden Monarchs 40-19 a month and a half ago after trailing 7-6 at the half. They followed that up by whipping the number one team in the GFL South, the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 56-18. They then handed the Berlin Rebels an embarrassing 63-0 prior to the bulldozing of the Comets.

Hildesheim quarterback Nelson Hughes has thrown for 1,957 yards and 21 touchdowns in the nine games with Lennart Stukenborg being his main target with 31 receptions for 378 yards and three scores and running back Jordan Grant who has 28 receptions for 260 yards. Grant has rushed for 829 yards and nine scores, good for second in overall yardage and average yards per game (92.1) while Hughes has rushed for 507 yards and nine touchdowns, making him the 10th leading rusher in the league.

The key to the Royals is their offense and quarterback Jaylon Henderson. Potsdam is averaging a ridiculous 58.6 points a game with Henderson throwing for 3,386 yards and 55 touchdowns against just one interception completing 82.1% of his passes. His favorite target, Brendan Beaulieu, is the second leading receiver in the GFL with 64 receptions for 1,112 yards and 17 touchdowns. Teammate Daniel Pedro has 26 for 591 yards and 10 scores while Thomas Jenkins has 37 for 490 yards and 10 touchdowns. Newly arrived Thomas Wilson has also made his mark catching 17 passes for 340 yards and six touchdowns in only four games.

Not surprisingly, Henderson is the GFL leader in passing touchdowns (55), first in yards per game (376.2) and first in completion percentage with an absurd 82.1%.

On the ground, Hildesheim leads the league in rushing yardage averaging 207.6 yards per game, and in rushing touchdowns with 24. Potsdam is the fourth leading rushing team in the GFL averaging 132.9 yards a game.