LIVESTREAM Sweden: Örebro Black Knights @ Uppsala 86ers, June 12, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 09:00 am ET)

| American Football | 06/12/2021

The Uppsala 86ers will kick off their 2021 season by hosting the Örebro Black Knights. In a condensed 2021 season every game matters, both teams are eager to return to play after an off-season filled with uncertainty.

The Black Knights head into the 2021 season with new head coach Sam Eisenstadt at the helm, after spending the 2020 season as the team’s defensive coordinator. Örebro’s defense features a solid core of Swedish players led by veteran linebacker Filip Jönsson, defensive back Eric Murphy and defensive linemen Ali Chakkour and Martin Jäppinen.

Orebro Black Knights @ Uppsala 86ers, June 12, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 09:00 am ET) Game is geoblocked for viewers in Sweden.

Offensively, Eisenstadt has brought in 6’6″ quarterback Trevor Vasey. Vasey most recently played for the Dusseldorf Panther of the German Football League in 2019, joining them for their final six games. The tall dual threat passer joins an Aaron Fiddler coordinated offense that features returning receivers Jesper Lindeus and Filip Wetterberg. On the ground look for the Black Knights to feature Kasper Wedberg and Erik Törnblom as the one two punch projects to be one of the countries best this season.

The Uppsala 86ers enter the 2021 season featuring an entirely Swedish roster. Fabian Söderberg will be the 86ers head coach for the upcoming season. Söderberg brings much needed knowledge to a young 86ers roster, having played defensive back, receiver, and quarterback in his career. Söderberg has played in Sweden, Australia, and one season of college football at Benedictine University (NAIA). That experience will be vital this year as the 86ers will look to develop some intriguing young players. Söderberg has mentioned playing and coaching if the team deems it necessary.

Josh Akena returns to Uppsala after a standout 2020 season for the club. Akena’s play as a linebacker and running back helped keep the 86ers competitive in many of their games last season. Another veteran joining Uppsala will be defensive back and receiver Nick Peterson. Peterson brings with him skills and knowledge from a long career in both Finland and Sweden. The former national team safety will be likely play all over the field for Uppsala.

Quarterbacking the Uppsala squad will be a combination of offensive coordinator Gustav Bowall and 19-year-old 6’1″ quarterback Viktor Wessberg. Bowall is a signal caller who has won a national title as part of a U19 team, while Wessberg is part of Sweden’s RIG football academy, a program which has been able to land multiple Swedish talent’s in the NCAA. The combination of Bowall and Wessberg will be an interesting dynamic to watch at quarterback this season.

The Black Knights go into this season looking to contend for the title against the fan favorites Mean Machines and Crusaders. A convincing win in Uppsala could help them set the tone for an underdog run at the title in this short season. For the 86ers they will look to use this season to rebuild and gain valuable experience for their core of young talent.

Watch the game live here. Orebro Black Knights @ Uppsala 86ers, June 12, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 09:00 am ET) (Game is geoblocked for viewers in Sweden)

Uppsala 86ers roster

Örebro Black Knights roster

 

 

Alex is a former NCAA and semi-pro American football player who is now located in London, where he works in digital marketing. His goal in writing for AFI is to stay involved with the game that has given him so much. Alex enjoys covering leagues and