Søllerød Gold Diggers demolish Aab 89ers in Danish National League opening game

It did not take the Søllerød Gold Diggers long to show they are serious contenders for the Danish title after they overwhelmed the AaB 89ers 62-16 this past Saturday.

After spotting the 89ers a 6-0 lead, Søllerød simply rolled over the Danish semifinalists from a year ago, scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter and four in the second to pull out to a 46-6 halftime lead. With the clock on running time the rest of the game, the Gold Diggers only added two more scores while Aalborg scored a touchdown at the end of the contest.

Gold Diggers quarterback Tanner Gueller threw for 136 yards and one touchdown while rushing for another 80 and two more touchdowns. AaB quarterback Alexander Kronborg had a night to forget completing just 12 of 32 passes for 124 yards and one touchdown but two interceptions, one for a touchdown.

AaB running back Breon Allen opened the scoring though on a one yard run and then it was all Gold Diggers.

Søllerød running back Christian Vahl burst off tackle with just under five minutes gone and then on the next 89ers possession, Kody Graves blocked the punt and returned the ball 40 yards for the score. A successful two-point conversion made the score 14-6 with over three minutes left in the quarter.

Aalborg managed to reach midfield on their next drive which included an Allen touchdown which was called back for a penalty. On a first and 10 from the 45, Gold Diggers defensive back Helmer Burchert picked off an 89ers pass and on the next play, and then Frederik Oldenburg hauled in a 45 yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 20-6.

Søllerød opened the second quarter with another scoring drive with quarterback Tanner Gueller taking the ball in from the 11 to up the score to 26-6.

A 60 yard punt return by Frederik Oldenburg of the Gold Diggers placed the ball at the 89ers six yard line. Rasmus Carøe took the ball in easily on the next play increasing the score to 32-6 with four minutes left in the half.

On the 89ers very next possession, Søllerød defensive back Ajdin Djurdjevic intercepted Kronborg at the 43 yard line and returned the ball all the way to make it 38-6.

Kronborg managed to drive the 89ers to midfield but failed on a fourth and two and the Gold Dìggers took over. On the next play, Gueller took off himself avoiding tackles and racing 52 yards to the end zone. The two-point attempt succeeded this time and the score at the half was 46-6.

Danish rules dictate that a point differential of 34 points or more at the half triggers the mercy rule, so the clock does not stop.

Søllerød added a touchdown in the third quarter on a three yard run by Carøe (two-point conversion good) and another in the fourth when Pablo De Diego scooped up a fumbled snap by the punter deep in 89ers territory and took it in for a touchdown. Carøe scored on the two-point attempt making the lead 62-6.

Aalborg found the end zone again with the game winding down as Kronborg threw his best pass of the game, tossing a 47 yard strike to Rashad Greene.

The Gold Diggers are back in action August 14 when they travel to Copenhagen to play the Copenhagen Towers. Aalborg will host the Aarhus Tigers on August 22.

All photos: Mikkel Bo Rasmussen/1st Down Photo