This Saturday, October 17 in Bialystok, Poland, the Bialystok Lowlanders will host the Wroclaw Panthers in a highly anticipated matchup of unbeatens!
The winner of this game will take sole ownership of first place in the Polish Liga Futbolu Amerykańskiego, LFA, and the number 1 seed for the playoffs. This game could be a preview of the LFA championship game later this year!
The Lowlanders go into this week after a 44-32 win against the Tychy Falcons. This game featured a strong second half from Lowlanders running back Glen Toonga. The score was 22 all at halftime before Toonga took over, gaining 115 yards and three touchdowns in the second half. The Lowlanders had two of their better players ejected in the second half. Safety Tommy Kaczocha and quarterback Brandon Gwinner. The Lowlanders will need to straighten up and have their best players on the field if they want to beat a strong Panthers squad. Before Gwinner’s ejection he had thrown for and ran for a touchdown in the game.
Wroclaw Panthers @ Bialystok Lowlanders, Oct. 17, 12:00 CET (06:00 ET)
Gwinner on the matchup with Wroclaw:
“This will be a tough defense to go against because they are very physical but being too physical can lead too mistakes, so we have to capitalize on their mistakes and create big plays.”
The Panthers must be considered the favorite in this matchup. Wroclaw has yet to play a close game with anyone this season. Their average margin of victory this season has been 48 points. They have not allowed more than 14 points so far on defense and are averaging 53 points a game on offense. Defensively their dominance has come from German import and Winnipeg Blue Bomber rush end Thiadric Hansen and a solid group of veteran Polish players including many national team members. Hansen has been a dominant force off the edge and has been terrorizing quarterbacks this season.
Offensively, the Panthers have looked extremely sharp. Polish National team quarterback Bartosz Dziedzic has played as well or better than any American so far this season. The Panthers running game has been bowling over defenses as well all season. Running back Ryan Tuiosoa has been unstoppable behind a strong Panthers offensive line. Tuiosoa on the matchup with the Lowlanders:
“We’re definitely excited to finally play Bialystok. Our goal is to approach this matchup like every other game no matter the opponent we face; start fast and don’t slow down”
This Saturday should be a great game featuring unbeaten teams battling it out for first place in the Polish LFA. This is the final game in the regular season both teams will try to use this game to gather some momentum in the playoffs. The field will be filled with some of the best players in Europe competing against each other!
Watch the game live here. Wroclaw Panthers @ Bialystok Lowlanders, Oct. 17, 12:00 CET (06:00 ET)
Click images to enlarge rosters
Bialystok Lowlanders roster
Wroclaw Panthers roster
