Matchups in Danish National League tough to predict

AFI | AAB 89ers | 09/03/2020

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Danish National League heads into its next to last weekend of play in the regular season with three of the five teams in contention for first place still.

Both matchups this week are intriguing with the surging AaB 89ers on the road to face the unbeaten Copenhagen Towers in the first game on September 5, while the defending champion Triangle Razorbacks play host to the Søllerød Gold Diggers in the second game on Sunday, September 6.

Saturday, September 5, Aalborg 89ers (2-1) @ Copenhagen Towers (2-0)

The Copenhagen Towers last played on August 23^rd defeating the Triangle Razorbacks in a close game 14-7. The Towers opened the season coming from two touchdowns down in the fourth quarter to beat the Sollerod Gold Diggers 29-26. Still, so far the Towers have only scored 43 points in their two games while giving up 33 and clearly have relied on a stingy defense and an opportune offense. Quarterback Calvin Stitt was the key in the win over Triangle, rushing for one touchdown and throwing to Mike Williams for the other.

For the visiting Aalborg 89ers, it has been an up and down season so far. They opened the year with a disappointing, lopsided loss to the but then beat Aarhus easily 56-12. Last week they won what was probably the most exciting game in Europe defeating the Triangle Razorback 34-26 in a back and forth contest. A key contributor to the 89ers victory was running back Breon Allen who ran for 187 yards, had 47 yards receiving, and scored three touchdowns. So far on the year, the mercurial Allen has rushed for 458 yards in three games while scoring seven touchdowns. The Towers will need to find a way to neutralize him. 89ers QB Alexander Kronborg has looked better and better and in the win over the Razorbacks threw for 241 yards and three touchdowns.

This will be one of the key games to watch this weekend.

Sunday, September 6, Søllerød Gold Diggers (2-1) @ Triangle Razorbacks (1-2)

The Søllerød Gold Diggers come into this game after defeating the Aarhus Tigers 56-0 last week. Quarterback Tanner Gueller threw for 335 yards and 5 touchdowns. The game was a blow out by halftime with the Gold Diggers leading 34-0 at the break. So far in three games, Gueller has thrown for 668 yards and eight touchdowns with one of his most dangerous weapons being wide receiver Thomas Ashworth who had 149 yards receiving in the win over the Tigers. Adria Botella who had 118 yards receiving in that game gives Gueller options. Running back Rasmus Carøe gives the Gold Diggers a solid rushing attack.

The defending champion Triangle Razorbacks go into their fourth game of the season with a 1-2 record. They are coming off two close losses to solid Aalborg (34-26) and Copenhagen (14-7) teams. Last week it was turnovers and penalties that hurt their chances of winning. That being said if the Razorbacks can find their top form again they are a talented team that can beat anyone in the Danish National League. Triangle’s veteran quarterback Reed Gottula has plenty of weapons including 2019 MVP Niko Lester, receivers Alessandro Mella and Kasper Eriksen as well as Spanish running back Adrian Jimenez. Jimenez was ejected from the game against the Towers in the fourth quarter and so had to sit out the last game against the 89ers. He will be back in the lineup in this one and dangerous. He has rushed for a total of 240 yards in the six quarters of play he has had so far.