Friday Night Football has returned to Sweden as the league-leading Stockholm Mean Machines (2-0) head to Uppsala to face the Uppsala 86ers (0-2) Friday, May 10.
These two team met twice in 2018, with Stockholm coming out on top both times, 37-17 and 17-13.
The Mean Machines stunned the eight-time champion Carlstad Crusaders 33-13 in the opening game of the Swedish season and then handed the Orebro Black Knights a 23-7 loss.
The Mean Machines have played and lost two international games since beating the Carlstad Crusaders in the opening game of the Swedish top league, 33-13. They lost a close game to Finland’s Helsinki Roosters 21-19 four weeks ago in Helsinki and then dropped a 28-25 decision to the Copenhagen Towers.
In the wins over Carlstad and Orebro, quarterback Alex Thury has been solid completing 33 of 53 passes for 343 yards and four touchdowns. His wide receivers make up maybe the best receiving corps in Sweden. Omar Fall, Per Lindelöf and Hans Maximilian von Wachsmann (155 yds, 2 TDs) are all dangerous. Also at his disposal is the joker in the mix, Alpha Jalloh.. Against the Roosters he had a monster day hauling in 13 passes for 222 yards (of Stockholm’s 242 total) and two touchdowns while Denny John scored the third touchdown on a pass from Thury who completed 17 of 29 passes.
Uppsala opened the season in Sweden with a 21-7 loss to the Orebro Black Knights and then dropped a 33-7 decision to the Carlstad Crusaders.
The 86ers suffered a blow during that opening game when starting quarterback Olle Hesselgren broke his leg knocking him out for the season. His replacement, Gustav Bowall stepped in and since has thrown for 140 yards and a touchdown.
Uppsala’s import players have looked good. Canadian defensive back Ryan Hector who plays both ways and also returns kicks has given the team an all around weapon. Australian offensive/defensive lineman Tim Clulow (9.5 tackles) also starts both ways. Linebacker Luis Rosado, who leads the team with 17 tackles in two games, is joined in the defensive front seven by another Australian, defensive end Sam Matautia. Icelandic offensive lineman Heidar Ingimarsson continues to impress.
