Sweden: Uppsala 86ers upset Örebro Black Knights

The Uppsala 86ers (1-0) took advantage of an injury-hobbled Örebro Black Knights (0-2) team Friday night at Osterangens IP field in Uppsala, beating the Black Knights 26-12 in the second weekend of play in Sweden’s Super Serien.

It was the opening game of the year for the 86ers and in a five-team league, an incredibly important victory.

Örebro entered the game without quarterback Raleigh Yeldell III after a foot injury kept him sidelined and the offensive star was clearly missed. Yeldell had scored four touchdowns the week before against the Carlstad Crusaders and thrown for the fifth.

Uppsala quarterback John Rock completed 19 of 31 passes for 215 yards and four touchdowns with Isac Vikman, Natti Habte, Stefan Galewski and Gustav Bowall all catching one.

For Örebro, veteran and ageless wide receiver/defensive back Johan Stål stepped up at quarterback and was outstanding in a losing cause, throwing for 229 yards (one of the best passing days in recent years for the Black Knights) and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Johannes Lindeus proved how potent a weapon he is catching four passes for 156 yards and a touchdown. K Lind caught the other touchdown for Örebro, a 41 yarder from Stål.

After a scoreless first period which saw both teams looking tentative. Stål marched his team on a nine-play, 93 yard drive finishing it with a 41 yard touchdown pass to Lind, giving the Black Knights a 6-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Rock finally got his team moving midway through the quarter and capped a 74 yard drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to Vikman to give Uppsala a 7-6 lead.

The 86ers reached the Black Knights red zone twice in the third quarter without scoring. But an Örebro fumble on their own 29 yard line was the impetus for the 86ers who capitalized two plays later as Rock connected with Galewski from 26 yards out and Uppsala extended the lead to 13-6.

Rock looked comfortable in the fourth quarter, engineering another touchdown drive for Uppsala throwing to Habte to finish it off and increase the lead to 20-6. But the surrpsing Stål was not done for the Black Knights, as he hit a streaking Lindeus for a 74 yard touchdown bomb and Örebro was back in the game, trailing 20-12.

Uppsala retaliated though as Rock threw a 19 yard touchdown pass to Bowall to round out the scoring and give the 86ers a much-needed early season victory.