The Potsdam Royals will play host to the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions, August 4, at Luftshiffenhafen Sportpark in Potsdam, Germany in the first full weekend of play in the German Football League in a month.
The Royals lost their last two games before the break, first losing to the Lions 45-14 and then dropping a 14-0 decision to the lowly Hildesheim Invaders. In fact, Potsdam has beaten only one +.500 team so far, the Berlin Rebels.
Nevertheless, the Royals have enjoyed a good season in their first year in the GFL and have added a European Football League crown. Potsdam defeated Italy’s Milano Seamen in the European Football League final in a thriller, 43-42..
Potsdam is fifth highest scoring offense in Germany averaging 32.4 points per game. The Royals are averaging 375 yards of offense a game .
Royals quarterback Austin Gahafer is the 5th leading passer with 2,160 yards and 29 TDs after nine games and his top receiver is Danish WR Frederik Myrup Nielsen who is also 5th in receiving yards with 776. Potsdam running back Tyvis Smith gives the Royals a major threat on the ground and is second in rushing in Germany with 779 yards and six touchdowns.
The Lions enter the game on a three-game winning streak after beating the Cologne Crocodiles, Dresden Monarchs and the Royals in comfortable fashion before the break. Braunschweig were surprised by the Berlin Rebels in mid June, losing 24-21.
Braunschweig has the highest scoring offense in Germany averaging 41 points a game, while their defense allows just 11.6 points a game, third best in the GFL.
Jadrian Clark of the Lions is one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country having completed 129 of 216 passes for 1,973 yards and 26 touchdowns against only five interceptions. His favorite target is Justus Holtz who has 483 yards receiving while Christian Bollmann has 325 yards receiving on 21 receptions. In fact, Clark has completed passes to 13 different receivers so far this season.
Interestingly, the Lions have the second highest rushing offense in Germany with 1,239 yards in total team rushing but with only one player in the top 10, the injured Lennies McFerrren with his 412 yards. However, for this game, the team has announced the return of the injured Chris McClendon to the team. McClendon led the GFL in rushing in 2017 but after signing with the Lions in the off season, suffered an injury that has kept him out until now. He will definitely put the Potsdam front seven to the test.
The Braunschweig defense is anchored by linebackers Roni Salonen and Anthony Darkangelo as well as defensive backs Tim Unger, Tissi Robinson and Darius Robinson and sack leader Jakob Schridde. They allow an average of 52.6 yards against the run and 155 against the pass.
This could turn into a slugfest with two of the top running backs in the GFL over the past two years going head to head.
