Reed Gottula has led the Triangle Razorbacks back to the Danish championship game, Mermaid Bowl XXXI, for the second year in a row where they will face arch rivals and defending champions, the Copenhagen Towers, Saturday, October 5
This is the second straight year these two teams have squared off in the title game and the fourth time since 2013. Last year, the Towers prevailed in an edge-of-your-seat thriller. beating Triangle 23-22.
In fact, the rivalry between the two clubs stretches back many years. The Razorbacks have won seven Danish titles while Copenhagen has a record eight after breaking the deadlock in last year’s final.
The scenario is much the same this year with Copenhagen having dominated the Danish National League winning all 10 regular season games plus the semifinal relatively easily. The Razorbacks enter the game as the underdogs, as they were last year, sporting a 6-4 regular season record and earning an upset win in the semifinals over the Sollerod Gold Diggers.
Copenhagen won both games between the two during the regular season, 56-36 and 28-14.
AFI: You have taken the Razorbacks to their second straight Mermaid Bowl. Congratulations. How does it feel after so many years playing in Europe?
Gottula: I am very excited to be apart of another Mermaid Bowl. I have been lucky to have played so long and grateful for the opportunity to be apart of the razorbacks, the chance to be in a championship game is a a feeling that never gets old.
AFI: You have had a solid season. Has it been what you expected in terms of football and living?
Gottula: It has been fun and rewarding throughout the season, every season has its challenges and our team does a great job of handling adversity and finding ways to get better every week. a lot of people have put in a lot of work and time both on and off the field to put us in a position to play at our best. We have great support from Razorback family that not only includes the players and coaches but also the all the volunteers and fans that make football here so exciting.
AFI: What are your strengths as a team?
Gottula: I think one of our great strengths is toughness, my teammates give everything they have, physically and mentally, every time we hit the field.
AFI: What are your strengths as a player?
Gottula: My strengths are getting the ball to our playmakers, we have some outstanding players that can make a big impact in any game.
AFI: You have played the Towers twice during the regular season and lost both times, but the second game was closer. Do you do anything different to prepare for them this time?
Gottula: The Towers are a great team and play sound football. We prepare for them with more focus and intensity, with the biggest game on the line we have to step up.
AFI: Who do you look out for on defense?
Gottula: They have a solid defensive line and we have to be dialed in to to play our best football.
AFI: Last year, the Razorbacks lost a heartbreaker to Copenhagen in the Mermaid Bowl. Does that give you extra motivation?
Gottula: Of course, if your not excited to be in a Mermaid Bowl you probably don’t have a pulse.
Mermaid Bowl XXXI is set for 4 pm, Saturday, October 5. You can watch the game live here on AFI. Check out our Livestreams game day.