PREVIEW: GFL South – Munich Cowboys v. Stuttgart Scorpions

[tps_title]Europe’s Top League Ready To Roll[/tps_title]

Fifteen teams start the season in Germany, all with one goal in mind – to play in German Bowl XXXVII on October 10, 2015 in Berlin’s Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark stadium.

The 37th GFL season kicks off Saturday April 18 with two early meetings.

The GFL South will get underway when the Munich Cowboys host the Stuttgart Scorpions on Saturday. The Cowboys, one of the oldest teams in Germany, are in their 33rd season, while Stuttgart begin their 28th.

The game will not be live streamed, but if your German is strong GFL TV & Radio will be broadcast the game live on web radio.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the clubs!

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[tps_title]German Football League South[/tps_title]

[tps_header]Munich Cowboys[/tps_header]

In 2014, the Munich Cowboys went 8-6 and finished 4th in Germany GFL South conference. The Cowboys’ season ended in when they fell to the eventual champions, the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions 68-29 in the GFL Playoff Quarterfinals.

For 2015, the Cowboys are boosted by import WR Ryan Retzlaff. The 23-year-old comes from Southern Oregon University where in his senior year he had 105 receptions, 1,594 receiving yards and 12 touchdown. The SOU Raiders were the 2015 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) champions.

Munich head coach Denauld Brown on Retzlaff;

“Ryan has proven that he is a winner. He is a prolific receiver and fits nicely in our attack. He wants to be in Munich and we are very happy that he 2015 the Munich Cowboys supported.”

Due to various university obligations the Cowboys import QB Ward Udinski won’t arrive in Munich until mid-May. Udinski has led the offense of Juniata College (Division III) in Pennsylvania over the past four years.

Brown on Udinksi;

“We are thrilled that Ward will be our quarterback this year. I’ve known him for four years. I know that we are getting an outstanding player. He has a significant role in ensuring that the high school and college football programs in which he participated, were a success. He is a proven winner and the epitome of a positive football player.”

The Cowboys’ defense is bolstered by Safety Timothy Breaker, and LB Augustine Ume-Ezeoke, who played his 2014 season with Norway’s Kristianstad Predators.

Brown on Breaker, who played for the University of Delaware;

“Timothy will be the necessary safety our backfield. He is an experienced player, will give our players much of his knowledge.”

[tps_title]German Football League South[/tps_title]

[tps_header]Stuttgart Scorpions[/tps_header]

Saturday, the Stuttgart Scorpions start their 2015 GFL season on the road in Munich. Time to look ahead and take a quick look back.

The Scorpions return to their home on the Waldau after spending 2014 in Esslingen while their home, Gazi Stadium in Stuttgart was rebuilt. Second year head coach Jemil Hamiko returns to a “new” home with a the hope for a new era.

In 2014, it was uncertain how Stuttgart would perform against Germany’s top flight teams with an almost entirely new coaching staff.  However, the Scorpions put together their best season in years, packing the stands with the highest fan turnout in the club’s history. The team finished second in the GFL South behind the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns and racked up 12 wins against only 2 losses. Exceeding all expectations, Stuttgart reached the GFL quarter-finals before falling to the Cologne Falcons.

With a solid 2014 campaign under their belts, the Scorpions 2015 line-up consists of a healthy mix of vweteran players such as receivers Fabian Weigel and Lasse Ahlgrimm, running back Patrick Geiger, defensive backs Klaus Stadelmaier and Gabriel Kalus and defensive linemen Corey Chapman and Jermaine Guynn – as well as aspiring young players from their own developmental pipeline and clubs from the Stuttgart region.

Last year’s quarterback Luke Barthelmess decided against a second year in Europe, and running back Brian Rushing, has moved on to the Heilbronn Salt Miners.

The Scorpions have bolstered their corps with defensive end Simon Gavanda and cornerback Brian Kipkurui both from the Dusseldorf Panthers. Also added are Czech national and former Prague Black Panthers player Daniel Balažovič, French safety Quentin Coulpin, and defensive tackle Sergey Souleymanov. Finally, cornerback Drew Fisher, a American import, has moved over from Schwäbisch Hall.

Not to be forgotten is of course the new, and former, quarterback of the Scorpions, Tom Schneider. This will be his fourth season and he is an integral part of the Scorpions family. After signing in 2012, Schneider quickly became a crowd favorite. Unfortunately, he was severely injured in 2013, and took to the sidelines as offensive coordinator and was an essential part of the team’s success in 2014.

The coaching staff underwent some changes as well. Hamiko will serve as Head Coach and Special Teams Coach, Schneider will handle quarterbacks and act as offensive coordinator, and they have added Drew Fisher (defensive backs and defensive coordinator), Daniel Urban (running backs), Sascha Wurster (wide receivers), Vasilios Ntonas (defensve line) and Jermaine Guynn (linebackers).

Stuttgart has already played a pre-season game against Austria’s Swarco Raiders in the Battle4Tirol.