The Göteborg Marvels snapped a three game losing streak by edging the Uppsala 86ers 8-7 and earned their first win of the 2018 season in the Swedish Superserien.
With the win, the Marvels climbed out of the basement in the standings with Uppsala now trailing them.
Defenses ruled the day as the two teams combined for only 438 yards of total offense.
Marvels starting running back Gerard Johnson turned into the hero of the game for Göteborg as he was pressed into service at quarterback, scoring his team’s only touchdown. He also threw for 89 yards. Starter Jonathan Anderson struggled and was replaced at halftime after throwing for 84 yards but also two interceptions on consecutive drives. Alpha Jalloh scored the all-important two point conversion.
Marvels Alpha Jalloh battling for yards as Uppsala DB Martin Cham looks on. Photo: Moses Sh
Uppsala quarterback John Rock completed 16 of 33 passes for 127 yards and rushed for 34 yards, scoring Uppsala’s lone touchdown. However, he was picked off three times.
The 86ers looked impressive on their second drive of the day in the first quarter as Rock engineered a 74 yards, six-play drive, finishing it by carrying the ball in himself. And that was it as Uppsala could not reach the red zone again in the game.
Göteborg was having its own offensive issues with its scoring drive not coming until early in the fourth quarter as Johnson finally began getting the offense to move. Johnson finished off an 11 play, 63 yard drive with a four yard sneak and the Marvels then took the lead on Jalloh’s two-point conversion.
The Marvels came close again, reaching the Uppsala nine yard line with just over two minutes left, but Jalloh was tackled on a fourth down for no gain.
With the win, the Marvels remain in playoff contention with a 1-3 record in the five-team league. Uppsala drops its record to 1-3 and is last.
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