LIVESTREAM Scandinavian Cup: Örebro Black Knights @ Carlstad Crusaders, June 3, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 9 am EDT)

AFI | American Football | 06/03/2023

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Örebro Black Knights head down the road to Karlstad, Sweden today to take on the Carlstad Crusaders in the final of the 2023 Scandinavian Cup.

Four teams entered the tournament this year – Carlstad, Örebro and Norway’s Oslo Vikings and Eidsvoll 1814s.

The teams played in two home and away series with the Crusaders facing the 1814s and Örebro taking on Oslo.

Carlstad and Eidsvoll faced each other in Karlstad, Sweden in the opening round with the Crusaders coming away with a decisive 26-0 victory. In the second game in Eidsvoll, Carlstad again had the shutout, this time 13-0.

In the other series, the Black Knights took the opening game in Norway 21-13 and then rolled over Oslo 37-7 at Behrn Arena in Örebro.

There have been a couple of changes to the Crusaders since that last game in Norway. Following a tough 39-0 loss to the Tyresö Royal Crowns in Swedish Superserien play last week, Carlstad replaced head coach Alex Burdette with Christian Forsman. Also, quarterback Dante Vandeven suffered a season ending injury a couple of weeks ago and the team has signed receiver/running back Hunter Belzo. Belzo will start at receiver but also serve as an emergency backup to young Swedish quarterback Albin Forsman.

Running back Victor Toresson has played well in the Scandinavian Cup while on defense Canadian linebacker Rory Kelly is a key. Another key to the Carlstad offense is receiver Elias Rosenquist who had 125 yards receiving and a touchdown the last time Carlstad and Örebro met.

In Örebro’s first game against Oslo, quarterback Trevor Vasey threw for 199 yards and three touchdowns, all three caught by wide receiver Johannes Lindeus who had 155 yards receiving. In the last game between these two teams, Lindeus had 124 yards receiving. This pair along with the other Lindeus brother, Jesper, will need to play at their top form in this one.

In that last game between Carlstad and Örebro two weeks ago in Swedish Superserien play, Carlstad overcame a 13-0 halftime deficit, scoring 28 points in the third quarter to defeat the Black Knights 28-21. In that game, Vasey threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns but was picked off twice. Forsman completed 10 of 21 passes for 199 yards and two scores while scoring another on the ground. As mentioned, Lindeus was a standout in that game as was Carlstad’s Rosenquist.

Look for Örebro to put pressure on the Crusaders young signal caller before he starts finding Belzo who will no doubt be one of his main targets. The Black Knights will be looking to redeem themselves after the second half letdown in Örebro. Carlstad is always tough at home at Tingvalla and with the added presence of a receiver as dangerous as Belzo, they will be primed and ready.