The Stockholm Mean Machines came back from a 21-7 deficit to defeat the hometown Uppsala 86ers 31-28 Saturday to claim sole possession of third place with one game remaining in the regular season in Sweden.
Stockholm quarterback Anders Hermodsson threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns while receiver Tyler McCulloch caught eight passes for 119 yards in the win. Michael Sander returned from an injury and hauled in six passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Hampus Simon, Mikael Rosendahl and Erik Säving also scored.
Uppsala RB Victor St. Pierre Laviolette scored a TD. Photo: Moses Sh
Nicko Peterson scored three touchdowns for Uppsala while Victor St. Pierre Laviolette had one and Blake Marklew added two, two-point conversions. Wide receiver Gustav Bowall was pressed into service at quarterback and responded with 178 yards and two touchdown passes while Kieran McDonagh threw another one.
The 86ers jumped out to a dream start taking 21-7 first quarter lead, but Stockholm reduced the lead to 21-14 at the end of the half.
The second half saw the Mean Machines take control pulling ahead to a seemingly comfortable 31-21 lead until late in the fourth quarter.
Then Uppsala changed the scene dramatically, scoring with just over a minute to go, closing the gap to 31-28 . They then recovered the onside kick giving them a final chance. But a last gasp pass was picked off by Stockholm defensive back Omar Fall, preserving the win for the Mean Machines and giving the them third place and a date with the Orebro Black Knights in the semifinals.
The 86ers have one game left in the regular season against the Limhamn Griffins. They have beaten Limhamn already once before this season, 33-15. But a loss by more than 18 would drop Uppsala out of the playoffs for the first time in many years.
Check out this amazing TD catch by Stockholm Mean Machines Michael Sander
Photos: Moses Sh
