Prague Black Panthers pummel Prague Lions to open season in Czech Republic

AFI | American Football | 04/05/2018

Black Panthers RB William Young Photo: Prague Black Panthers

The Prague Black Panthers served notice on the rest of the Czech League of American Football this past weekend by trouncing crosstown rivals the Prague Lions 48-0 at the Viktorie Zizkov stadium in Prague in the opening game of the 2018 season.

The Black Panthers rolled up 306 yards of offense, 196 on the ground in totally dominating a Lions team that was expected to challenge for the title this year.

Quarterback Jan Dundacek completed 10 of 19 passes for 114 yards and three touchdowns but rushed for another 54. Running back William Young carried the ball 11 times for 88 yards and a touchdown while receiver Jan Štiegler caught five passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns and Jakub Woleský hauled in three for 23 yards and another touchdown. Karel Augusta added another touchdown on a pick six.

Lions quarterback Zach Bartlow threw for 125 yards on 15 of 32 passing but was picked off for a touchdown.

The Lions struggled from the opening whistle and only managed to cross into Black Panthers territory once in the first half. Following a scoreless opening quarter, Dundacek began to get his team untracked. A bungled punt by the Lions early in the second quarter gave the Black Panthers the ball on the Lions three yard line and Dundacek made no mistake finding Wolesky to take a 7-0 lead.

Photo: Prague Lions

The Lions defense still managed to keep Dundacek under control, snuffing out drives, but with the offense unable to move the ball (they managed just four first downs in the first half) the defense began to tire. The Black Panthers kicked a field goal midway through the quarter and then Štiegler scored the first of his two touchdowns late in the first half to give the Black Panthers a 17-0 halftime lead.

Augusta picked off Lions quarterback Zach Bartlow on the Lions first possession of the second half returning it for a touchdown and adding to the lead, 24-0.

The punting woes continued for the Lions as the Black Panthers again started from Lions territory on the next series and Young made them pay. On a six play, 47 yard drive, he had four carries for 33 yards and scored the touchdown to increase the lead to 31-0.

Special teams were a factor in this game as Black Panthers head coach Dan Levy threw in an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, with his team recovering the ball on the Lions 28 yard line. Two plays later, Stiegler scored his second touchdown of the game on a 28 yard pass from Dundacek to extend the lead to 38-0.

The fourth quarter saw the Black Panthers add a field goal and then rest the starters. Running back Petr Novak scored the final touchdown on a 15 yard run after Bartlow had marched the Lions deep into Black Panthers territory twice without scoring.

The Black Panthers superiority in this game was a team effort as thanks to their defense and special teams, they started seven of their 13 drives inside the Lions half of the field, four times inside the 30 yard line.

The Lions are back in action this weekend when they face the Pilsen Patriots while the Black Panthers do not play again until April 21 when they take on the Brno Alligators.