LIVESTREAM Germany PPV: Potsdam Royals @ Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, May 20, 17:00 CET (5 pm, 11 am EDT)

| American Football | 05/20/2023

The Potsdam Royals will be looking for revenge today, May 20, when they visit the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns in the German Football League’s opening day of the 2023 season.

The Unicorns defeated the previously unbeaten Royals 44-27 in the 2022 German Bowl to capture their fifth GFL title.

In a new wrinkle in the GFL this season, after 11 years without regular season games between the North and South, each team will play an opponent from the opposing conference twice. Hence, this game, which has turned into a highly anticipated rematch of the 2022 championship game. And it could surprise as the Unicorns unveil a brand new coaching staff and team after the departure of Jordan Neuman and many members of that 2022 championship team.

Under new head coach Christian Rothe, Schwäbisch Hall will start German QB Ian Gehrke who will still have reliable WR Tyler Rutenbeck to throw to with RB Larz Kozwalski (516 yards rushing) still carrying the ball. Gehrke’s other targets will include newly signed TE Stephen McCluskey (GB, Northwestern Oklahoma State, NCAA DII) and WR Caleb Schweigart (USA, Morningside NAIA).

On defense, Rothe has added DB Tommy Kaczocha (USA/Poland, Wasa Royals), as well as DL Brady Opp (USA, CSU-Pueblo, NCAA DII) and LB Lennart Graner (Germany/GB, SGS Pride Academy). On top of that, outstanding DB Monteze Latimer has re-signed with the team.

Last week, the Unicorns saw their first action in a Central European Football League quarterfinal matchup against Sweden’s Stockholm Mean Machines, who they beat on the last play of the game, 29-27.

The Royals, who were undefeated before losing in the title game last season, enter the game with a new quarterback in Jaylon Henderson (Boise State) and new running back in Gennadiy Adams (Frankfurt Galaxy). 

They also re-signed wideouts Jared Wolfe and Brandon Polk as well as TE Jerome Valbon along with offensive linemen OL Stefan Numi Stefansson (Iceland) and Brendan Oswin. In other words, the league’s top offense in 2022 should be just as potent in 2023.

Potsdam has bolstered the defense with defensive tackles Ikeem Allen (USA, Miami Ohio NCAA DI, Kuopio Steelers) and Jaylen Chan-Tung (Australia), while adding defensive backs Peter Lundstrom (Finland, Kuopio Steelers) and Ronaldo Tomasello (USA, Italy, Lubeck Cougars, Ball State NCAA DI).

This will be the GFL’s most watched opening day matchup in many years. Will it live up to the hype?

Watch the game live PPV: Potsdam Royals @ Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, May 20, 17:00 CET (5 pm, 11 am EDT)

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