LIVESTREAM Switzerland: GAME CANCELLED DUE TO HEAVY RAINFALL Calanda Broncos @ Winterthur Warriors, Aug. 30, 17:00 CET, (11:00 ET)

AFI | American Football | 08/30/2020

Graphics: Igor Lazarevic

The Winterthur Warriors will host the Calanda Broncos Sunday, August 30 as the Swiss “post COVID-19 lockdown friendly” season rolls into its third round.

The Warriors and Broncos have both played and beaten the St. Gallen Bears. The Warriors blanked St. Gallen last weekend 48-0 while Calanda opened the season by defeating the Bears 47-7. These two teams faced each other twice in 2019 with Calanda winning both games, 36-14 and 23-20.

This will be the third weekend of play after the the Swiss American Football Federation, SAFV, teams voted for a fall playing schedule for the seven teams who chose to participate.

Calanda Broncos @ Winterthur Warriors, Aug. 30, 17:00 CET, (11:00 ET)

The teams are divided into two regional groups, East and West, basically to cut down on travel costs. Each team in the West group will play a total of six games while in the East with only three teams, each will play four games. The season ends on September 20.

The Broncos and Bears play in the East group along with the Winterthur Warriors. Initially the Argovia Pirates were included in this group but have since dropped out. One of the critical “gentlemen’s rules” for the season to be able to be played was that all the games would be played without import players. The only non-Swiss players allowed will be European players already on the roster and non-Swiss residents who have lived in the country for five continuous years.

Winterthur enters the game with veteran Richard Wartmann at quarterback while Leon Simioni will start at running back. In beating the Bears, Wartmann threw touchdown passes to Yannick Bünzli (2) while running back Cédric Peter scored three rushing touchdowns with Simioni adding one and Jeff Wissekerke another. Lars von Känel had a pick six to round out the scoring for the Warriors who led 41-0 at the half.

Calanda head coach Geoff Buffum will again step in as starting quarterback for the Broncos after the 44 year old put on a solid showing in the win over St. Gallen. He completed 9 of 15 passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns while his backup Severin Murk threw for 33 yards on 4 of 5 passing. Murk also caught four of Buffum’s passes for 57 yards and two touchdowns while Lukas Lütscher caught the other touchdown pass. The Broncos ground game led the way with Steffen Haenelt rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown as the leading rusher. Erik Rageth rushed for 99 yards and a score while Tino Muggwyler had 10 carries for 93 yards and another touchdown. Murk also scored a rushing touchdown to go with his two receiving touchdowns.