The Frankfurt Universe will welcome the Ingolstadt Dukes to Volksbanks Stadion in Frankfurt Sunday, August 20 in a battle between the top passing offense in Germany and the top defense.
With three games left in the 2017 season, the 9-2 Universe are assured of a second place finish in the German Football League South division and will likely face the Dresden Monarchs in the first round of the playoffs. Ingolstadt, on the other hand, is still in a fight for a playoff spot, sitting fourth with a 6-5 record with a surging Allgau Comets team hot on their heels.
These two teams met a month ago in Ingolstadt and Frankfurt scored three fourth quarter touchdowns to pull away and beat the Dukes 42-18. In that game, the Universe racked up 255 yards of rushing with running back Silas Nacita doing most of the damage, rushing for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
Frankfurt’s swarming defense stymied Ingolstadt a month ago Photo: j-e-s-fotografie
Frankfurt enters this game with the stingiest defense in the league allowing just 9.3 points per game and 128 passing yards per game, both best in Germany. The Dukes boast the best passing offense in the league averaging 303.3 yards a game.
Behind the running of Nacita, Frankfurt is the third-best rushing team in the league averaging 169.3 yards. Nacita’s 1,052 yards rushing puts him fourth in Germany, but he is averaging eight yards a carry, almost a first down every time he touches the ball.
Ingolstadt will again start veteran Keith Hilson at quarterback in place of the injured Rick Webster. He posted respectable numbers in the loss to the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns a week ago throwing for 247 yards and a pair 0f touchdowns. Frankfurt quarterback Jaleel Alwini while not putting up overwhelming numbers, will hurt you with both his legs and arm and has accounted for almost 1,000 yards in total offense since arriving six games ago.
The Dukes are in a battle for their playoff lives and a desperate team is the most dangerous. Frankfurt, the other hand, has only lost two home games in two years.
Watch the Pay Per view game live here.
Kickoff: Sunday, August 20, 3 p CEST (9a EDT)