Sweden: Carlstad Crusaders dominate Stockholm Mean Machines, roll to win #2
The Carlstad Crusaders continued their march to a ninth straight Swedish title with a 41-20 thrashing of the Stockholm Mean Machines in Carlstad, Sweden.
The Crusaders rolled to a 33-6 first half lead before the Mean Machines came alive briefly in the third quarter.
Quarterback Philip Juhlin completed 17 of 26 passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for another 71 yards in a dominating performance. Wide receiver Jacob Dahre caught six passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns while Marcus Johnson had four catches for 68 yards and a touchdown and Robin Juhlin (no relation to Philip) had four receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown as well. Running back Viktor Toresson scored a touchdown while Julius Rucker Jr. returned an interception 70 yards for another touchdown.
Carlstad DB Julius Rucker looking for daylight after an interception
For the Mean Machines, Anders Hermodsson threw for 142 yards and one touchdown and rushed for another touchdown. Matthew Retzlaff hauled in a 10 yard touchdown pass from Hermodsson and running back Emil Knutsson scored another.
Carlstad took a 7-0 lead in a relatively quiet first quarter as Toresson capped a 65 yard drive with a two-yard dive into the end zone to give the Crusaders a 7-0 lead.
Then Carlstad took full control scoring four touchdowns in the second quarter as Johnson, Dahre and Juhlin all caught touchdown passes and AbdelHalim picked off Hermodsson and raced 70 yards to round off the first half scoring. Retzlaff scored for Stockholm but the damage was done as the Crusaders held a commanding 33-6 lead.
Carlstad RB Victor Toresson being pursued by Stockholm/s Larenz Abston
Hermodsson opened the third quarter with a vengeance though, marching his team 69 yards in nine plays and carrying the ball in himself to narrow the gap to 33-12. Then the Mean Machines recovered the onside kick and Knutsson finished off the drive with a two yard touchdown and Stockholm suddenly had hope, 33-20 with a full quarter to go.
Juhlin was not done though as he opened the fourth quarter by marching Carlstad into Stockholm territory and then hitting Dahre for a 40 yard touchdown and then also for the two-point conversion to make it 41-20.
The Crusader’s defense did the rest keeping Stockholm at bay while Juhlin and the offense played ball control for the rest of the game.
With the win, Carlstad improves to 2-0 while Stockholm evened their record at 1-1.
