The Sarpsborg Olavs Menn (1-6) take the hour long trip to Oslo, Norway Sunday, June 30 to face the defending champion and undefeated Oslo Vikings (6-0) in the Norwegian League of American Football semifinals.
These two teams met twice during the regular season with Oslo winning both easily, 40-0 and 56-6.
In other words, this is truly a David and Goliath scenario.
The Vikings marched through the season with an impeccable 6-0 record. They finished as the top offense in Norway scoring 246 points in six games (41 pt/game) and the stingiest defense (10 pts/game).
Meanwhile, Sarpsborg did not win a game during the six-game regular season, scoring just 80 points in the process, until they reached a wild card playoff where they surprised the Vålerenga Trolls, beating them soundly, 63-34.
Oslo head coach Derek Mann will have his troops ready for this game and will not be taken by surprise. The offense, with quarterback Robert Mehmet behind center has been unstoppable all year. Mehmet has thrown 15 touchdown passes while the running back duo of Vegard Tysse and Jesper Jørgensen has rushed for 19 touchdowns. Linebacker Kim Schanning anchors what has been the best defense in Norway for the past three years.
This was the first season in Norway’s top league for the Olavs Menn. As one of the top two teams in Division 1 in 2018, the team reached the Wild Card Playoff round but were dumped by Eidsvoll. Nevertheless, head coach Travis Cornwell rallied his team in the wild card playoff as Sarpsborg racked up up 63 points after averaging only 13.3 points a game in the regular season.Quarterback Thor Campe and running back Joacim Junhov-Rindberg are the team’s top offensive playmakers. Linebacker Pål Mangseth anchors a defense that, at least on paper, is completely overmatched in this contest.
However, Cornwell is fully aware of how much of an underdog his team is and the playoffs are always the playoffs. Anything can happen.
Watch the game live here. Sarpsborgs Olavs Menn @Oslo Vikings, June 30, 2p CEDT (8a EDT)
