Serbia’s Kragujevac Wild Boars notched another important win Saturday following last week’s victory over arch rivals SBB Vukovi Belgrade as they defeated Turkish reigning champions the Koç Rams in a hard fought Central European Football League battle in Serbia.
This was the opening game of the CEFL Eastern Conference and despite the heavy rain and occasional delays due to lightning, it was a doozy
Kragujevac quarterback Ian McGinnis threw three touchdowns passes, two to Filip Nedeljković and one to Strahinja Stepović. Petar Goić kicked all three extra points.
Rams quarterback Quentin Williams threw touchdown passes to Ivan Pavlović and Kaan Özer while Mehmet Sarikatipoglu added the PATs.
Photo: Igor Lazarevic
After tentative play in the opening quarter, the Rams took an early lead in the second quarter when Williams connected with Pavlovic on an 82 yard bomb. But the Wild Boars responded as Stepović first returned the ensuing kick off on his former team to midfueld and then two plays later caught an 18 yard touchdown pass from McGinnis to even the score at 7-7.
The Rams regained the lead before the first half ended as Williams found Özer alone in the end zone from 25 yards out and the Turkish league leader took a 14-7 halftime lead.
The second half was all Kragujevac however as the Wild Boars crushing defense adjusted to Williams and the Koç offense, keeping them off the scoreboard.
McGinnis and Nedeljkovic found a rhythm in the second half scoring in each quarter, once from 10 yards out and the other in the fourth on a 33 yard pass.
With this victory Kragujevčani took a big step towards the CEFL finals. They will face the Budapest Cowbells from Hungary in a decisive game in May after SBB Vukovi Belgrade defeated the Cowbells 27-24 in Budapest.
Source information: Igor Lazarevic