Romanian American Football League kicks off with high drama and a statement win by Mureș Monsters

By Henry Páll

The 2025 Romanian National American Football League (CNFA) is officially underway, and Week 1 delivered a mix of disappointment, fireworks, and an emphatic statement from the returning Mureș Monsters. With one game forfeited before kickoff and another ending in a dominant blowout, the opening weekend set the tone for what promises to be an intriguing season.

Bucharest Rebels start with a walkover after 89ers’ forfeit

The season opener was supposed to feature the Bucharest Rebels taking on the Timișoara 89ers, but the game never took place. Due to an administrative forfeit by Timișoara, the Rebels were awarded a 35-0 default victory, per league rules. While not the start the reigning champions would have hoped for, they officially took the field for the first time in Week 2, traveling to Târgu Mureș for what will be a massive early-season showdown.

Mureș Monsters return in style, dominate Cluj Crusaders 42-0

The real action of Week 1 came in Cluj-Napoca, where the Cluj Crusaders hosted the Mureș Monsters at Baza Sportivă Unirea. For the Monsters, this was not just a season opener—it marked their return to the Romanian league after a long hiatus. And they made sure everyone noticed.

From the opening kickoff, it was clear that head coach Shayan Hassanzadeh’s team had no intention of playing it safe. The Monsters attempted an onside kick to start the game, sending a strong message that they came to attack. While the attempt was unsuccessful, it set the tone for a game that was soon to be dominated by the visitors.

Hassanzadeh explained the aggressive decision, stating:

“Playing under Cluj last year, I knew there was going to be a hole and an opportunity there. But at the same time, regardless if it was Cluj or any other team, I told the guys back in January that we’d be starting the season with an onside kick. We wanted to make a statement—we are going to be aggressive this year.”

First Half: Monsters Set the Tone

The Monsters’ offense struck early, as running back Rajmond Sárosi found the end zone in the first quarter, giving his team a 6-0 lead. While the two-point conversion failed, the visitors were just getting started.

However, the first half was not without controversy. An on-field altercation between the Crusaders’ German player Florian Mala’ebeh and Monsters’ American import DJ Ruff led to both players being ejected. The Monsters strongly stand by their player and intend to challenge the ejection.

In the second quarter, the Monsters ramped up their offensive assault. Quevin Redding opened the scoring with his first touchdown of the evening, though another unsuccessful two-point conversion left the score at 12-0. Then, quarterback Hunor Szölösi took matters into his own hands, using his legs to punch in another score and extend the lead to 18-0.

By halftime, the game was already getting out of hand. Sárosi added his second touchdown of the night, and a successful two-point conversion from Keanu Thames pushed the score to 26-0. The Crusaders’ struggles were compounded when their starting quarterback Paul Cîrjă was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct, forcing backup Denis Filaton to take over for the remainder of the game.

Second Half: Sealing the Blowout

If there were any doubts about the outcome, the Monsters erased them quickly after the break. Redding found the end zone again, extending the lead to 34-0. That score triggered the Mercy Rule, meaning the game clock would run continuously for the rest of the contest.

 Redding reflected on his second touchdown:

“Me and Hunor (Szölösi) worked on that throw for a month. He threw it a little late, but he got it out there. I was excited that he threw it despite the rain and the pressure.”

The Monsters weren’t finished. With the Crusaders’ offense unable to gain any momentum, the visitors added one final dagger—a Péter Szabó two-point conversion following yet another touchdown. That made the final score 42-0, cementing the Monsters’ return to Romanian football in emphatic fashion.

Offensive Coordinator Nick Davis praised the offensive execution:

 “Momentum was key. Being able to march down the field, chew up the clock, and score while in the red zone was huge. Doing this with little to no negative plays has an immensely positive effect on the players’ and coaches’ mindset.”

 Defensive Dominance and what’s next

While the offensive explosion will grab headlines, the Monsters’ defense deserves just as much credit. They shut out the Crusaders, keeping them from scoring a single point and smothering their offense at every turn.

Linebacker and team captain Csongor Fekete highlighted the team’s defensive discipline:

“The key to the shutout was that the new guys stepped up and everyone did their job. They tried to run the ball, but we managed to stop that, so they had to pass, where we managed to turn the ball over a couple of times.”

Keanu Thames emphasized the Monsters’ defensive identity:

“We don’t just want to win—we want to defeat our opponents completely. Coach Shayan has a game plan, and we execute accordingly. We make sure we are the most physical defense in the league.”

Of course, it’s still early in the season, and the Monsters’ true test will come in Week 2. Their next opponent? The defending champion Bucharest Rebels, who will finally take the field in what promises to be a high-stakes showdown in Târgu Mureș.

Thames sent a message ahead of the showdown:

“I know the Rebels are the defending champions, but they pad up the same way I do. Our biggest challenge when facing them is not letting ourselves forget what we are here to do. If we do our jobs well, I think you’ll see the results up on the scoreboard.”

After their electrifying start, the Monsters have put the league on notice. But can they stand toe-to-toe with the best?

We’ll find out soon enough.