LIVESTREAM Germany PPV: Berlin Adler @ Munich Cowboys, July 13, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 10 am EDT)

AFI | American Football | 07/13/2024

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Berlin Adler (3-3) travel south to face the Munich Cowboys (3-3) in a key non-conference game for both teams as the German Football League hits the midpoint of the season.

The Cowboys opened the season by beating the Straubing Spiders 31-7 and then downed the Kirchdorf Wildcats 21-14. They then dropped two in a row, 33-17 to the Ravensburg Razorbacks and 42-35 to the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns and then 27-7 to the previously winless Wildcats. They rebounded with a solid 31-27 victor over the Allgäu Comets.

The Adler are coming off a tough 44-32 loss to the Dresden Monarchs following a three game winning streak which saw them beat the Straubing Spiders 26-21, the Berlin Rebels 27-18 and the Dolphins 44-33. They had opened the season losing two in a row, 49-42 o the Invaders and then 58-0 (!) to the Potsdam Royals.

Munich quarterback Niklas Yockey has thrown for 1,340 yards and 16 touchdowns in the six games with his favorite targets being Gabriel Boccella who has 34 catches for 474 yards and seven touchdowns followed by Anton Chereminskiy who has caught 12 passes for 139 yards and Nicco Heiss with 12 receptions for 227 yards and a touchdown. Jack Marton is the Cowboys leading rusher with 239 yards rushing on 47 carries but he did not suit up in the last game against the Comets so it remains to be seen who will start today..

The Adler offense has looked solid so far but the return of quarterback Zach Cavanaugh to the lineup has made a difference. He had missed the first four games of the season. He has thrown for 654 yards and eight touchdowns in the last two games. Hendrik Scharnbacher had been the starter in his place and threw for 716 yards and eight touchdowns. The top receivers for the Adler include wideout Maylan Bacher who has 28 catches for 395 yards and two scores and Chuka Austin Okpalobi who has hauled in 28 passes for 434 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Chrisman Kyei has rushed for 404 yards on 71 carries (5.7 yds/carry).

This game could well be decided between the Adler aerial attack and the excellent Munich secondary who are third in the league in defending against the pass.