Sweden: The Carlstad Crusaders are back! Whip Örebro Black Knights
The Carlstad Crusaders (1-1) took control early and never let up en route to a 46-0 pasting of the Örebro Black Knights (1-1) on Easter Monday, silencing all the critics and reestablishing themselves as contenders for the Swedish crown.
The Crusaders came under heavy criticism after dropping a 33-13 decision to the Stockholm Mean Machines in the season opening game, and quarterback Shazzon Mumphrey was a particular target after he struggled.
Needless to say, Mumphrey and his teammates redeemed themselves in a big way, in handing Örebro their worst loss in eight years to Carlstad.
Carlstad WR Jacob Bergwall Photo: Tommy Börzsei
Mumphrey completed 19 of 30 passes for 275 yards and four touchdowns while scoring another on the ground. Kevin Börzsei hauled in six passes for 95 yards and a touchdown while Robin Juhlin caught two touchdown passes and Marcus Johnson one. Emil Knutsson rushed for 39 yards and a touchdown and Victor Toresson 35 yards and another.
Carlstad racked up 439 yards in offense compared to 57 for the Black Knights.
Örebro quarterback Johnny Knox had a rough game completing just seven passes for 57 yards. Knox was his team’s leading rusher with seven carries for 49 yards.
The Crusaders were in command from the outset with the offense clicking from the opening whistle as Mumphrey marched them down to the Black Knights one yard line on the first possession of the game and Knutsson converted.
The Black Knights could not move the ball in the first half in the face of a relentless Carlstad defensive pressure. In seven possessions, the offense did not move past their own 35 yard line while committing a fumble and an interception, both of which Carlstad turned into touchdowns on the ensuing possessions.
Carlstad RB Emil Knutsson Photo: Tommy Börzsei
Meanwhile, the Crusaders scored on six of their first seven series taking a 40-0 lead at halftime.
The referees then invoked the “mercy rule” which means that when one team is ahead by 34 points or more, they never stop the clock.
In the total of 24 minutes of running playing time in the second half, Carlstad managed to add one more touchdown as Börzsei caught a 14 yard scoring pass from Mumphrey.
The win was crucial for Carlstad in a four team league with the Stockholm Mean Machines looking strong this year.
Carlstad head coach Billy Kennedy:
“I am really proud of our guys. They bounced back from that opening game with class and played extremely well today. Shazzon was excellent today but everyone stepped up their games.”
