LIVESTREAM: Poland – Lodz Wilki @Gdynia Seahawks, Sat. March 23, 5p CEST (12p EDT)

| American Football | 03/23/2019

The Gdynia Seahawks will open the season in Poland’s Liga Futbolu Amerykańskiego playing host to the Lodz Wilki.

The Seahawks, who did not make the finals in Poland in 2018 for the first time since 2013 (winning it in 2014 and 2015) will be trying to redeem themselves this season. New head coach Mele J. Mosqueda has faced some challenges in the off season but seems to have fixed many of them . It started with the signing of the top quarterback in Sweden and one of the best in Europe, Philip Juhlin and the leading tackler in the Austrian Football League in 2018, Barron Miller.

The 6’1″, 210 lb 27 year old Juhlin has spent the past three seasons leading the Carlstad Crusaders to two Swedish titles and an overall record in Sweden of 33-1. The only game the Crusaders lost during Juhlin’s time as quarterback was the Swedish final last year. In the past two regular seasons in Sweden, he has thrown for 4,730 yards and 65 touchdowns.

The 6’2″, 230 lb, 25 year old Miller a native of Copiah County, Mississippi, played for the Sonic Wall Mödling Rangers in the Austrian Football League, helping them to a 5-5 record and a wild card playoff berth. He led the AFL in tackles for the entire season in 2018, and  finished the year with 75 tackles in 10 games. 

Miller was a standout middle linebacker for the University of North Alabama Lions in his career there. He helped the Lions reach the NCAA Div. II national final in 2016 where they lost to Northwest Missouri State.

Lodz suffered through a dismal 1-7 season in 2018 but with the addition of veteran head coach Lonnie Hursey and offensive coordinator Jason Abney, the club seems to have righted the ship. One of Poland’s top defenders, linebacker /safety Patryk Kurkowski has returned after spending the last couple of seasons playing in Holland. The Wilki have also signed running back Malcolm Gasque who helped the Lisboa Devils in the Portuguese championship in 2016. Gasque has also played in Turkey with the Sakarya Tatankalari in 2018, France (Cannes Iron Mask) and Brazil (Sao Paolo Storm).

Watch the game live here. Lodz Wilki @Gdynia Seahawks, Sat. March 23, 5p CEST (12p EDT)

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