The 2016 American football league kicks off Easter Monday in Switzerland as the defending champion Calanda Broncos take on their opponents in last year’s Swiss Bowl, the Bern Grizzlies.
In his second year at the helm of the Broncos, head coach Geoff Buffum has returned the Broncos to the elite level they had reached a few years ago. They rebounded from a disappointing 2014 season, winning the Swiss league title in 2015 in dominating fashion. After scrimmaging against Poland’s Wroclaw Panthers last week they appear ready for the Swiss regular season.
With quarterback Josh Dean back behind center, Calanda’s offense was consistent against the Poles. Receivers Adrian Sünderhauf, Lukas Lütscher and Alex Raich, all had touchdowns in the scrimmage and give Dean an excellent receiving corps.
Calanda’s Josh Dean and Bern’s Michael Wilhelmi
Bern Grizzlies new head coach Malik Jackson is no stranger to championships himself. In 2015, he guided the Carlstad Crusaders in Sweden to the IFAF Europe Champions League title and followed that up with the Swedish championship.
He is joined by quarterback Jacob Caron who has played for the Bologna Warriors in Italy and Sweden’s Stockholm Mean Machines. Jackson will look to linebacker Michael Wilhelmi to help his defense keep Calanda’s high-powered offense in check.