The Tyresö Royal Crowns will play host to the Örebro Black Knights Saturday, July 1 in a single playoff game to decide who will face the Stockholm Mean Machines for the Swedish Superserien title.
The Black Knights qualified for the playoffs by defeating the Carlstad Crusaders 8-0 in the final regular season game of the year. The eight point win was exactly the margin of victory Örebro needed to advance.
This is the third meeting between these two teams this year. The Royal Crowns won the previous two by scores of 41-6 and 37-14.
The Tyresö offense is run by versatile quarterback Hamish McClure who is the second leading passer in the league having thrown for 1,101 yards and 15 TDs against only three interceptions. The dual threat signal caller is also the second leading rusher with 43 carries for 298 yads and two scores. Örebro will need to find a way to keep him under control. In the two previous games McClure has thrown for 522 yards and seven touchdowns.
Sweden Semifinal PPV: Örebro Black Knights @ Tyresö Royal Crowns, July 1, 17:00 CET (5 pm, 11 am EDT)
His main target, Edvin Almeida is second in the league with 32 catches, for 490 yards and seven touchdowns while teammate Dovydas Koncevicius sits fifth with 22 receptions for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Royal Crowns running back Emil Knutsson is the third leading rusher behind McClure with 254 yards and a score.
Black Knights’ quarterback Trevor Vasey is the third leading passer in the league having thrown for 980 yards and nine touchdowns. His key receiver is Johannes Lindeus, who has 21 receptions for 343 yards and three touchdowns. His brother Jesper is not far behind with 12 catches for 246 yards and four scores.
Örebro will need the run game to click against the top rushing defense in the league. Running back Kasper Wedberg finished as the leading rusher in Sweden with 394 yards in six games, but he will need help to become a key factor.
Ultimately though, the Black Knights defense has to find a way to slow down the Tyresö offense which averages 341 yards and 28.3 points a game.