Triangle Razorbacks Win Denmark’s Mermaid Bowl in a Thriller

The Triangle Razorbacks have captured their seventh Danish title since 2006 and second in a row by beating the Copenhagen Towers 22-18  in Hosens, Denmark in a game that was as physical and close as predicted.

These two teams split the season series in two close contests and this one was no different.

Razorbacks quarterback Duke DeLancelotti threw two touchdown passes and running back Mathias Kraghe added another in a game which was not decided until seconds remained on the clock.

DeLancelotti had thrown five interceptions before his fourth quarter heroics in keeping the final drive alive and throwing a 33 yard touchdown pass to Oliver Holmlund.

Towers quarterback Kasper Skyum ran for one touchdown and threw for another but was also interception prone throwing three picks himself. Troen Klixbüll kicked a field goal for the other Copenhagen points.

Copenhagen opened the scoring on a bizarre play with Skyum fumbling the ball into the end zone and falling on his own fumble. A two point conversion gave the Towers an 8-0 lead.

After a nervous start, which saw Delancelotti throw his first interception to game MVP Nicolai Zacho, who must have thought he was wearing a Razorbacks uniform (he had three picks on the day), Mathias Kragh plunged into the end zone from the one yard line reducing the Towers lead to 8-7.

The Towers replied two series later as Skyum connected with Fredrik Myrup on a 69 yard bomb and Copenhagen extended their lead to 15-7. The Towers had regained the momentum going into the break and looked poised to take charge of the game.

DeLancelotti, one of the top players in the league throughout 2016, continued his dismal outing in the third quarter throwing interceptions #3 and #4. But the Towers could not take advantage as they were also struggling with their own turnovers as Skyum threw his second pick.

DeLancelotti finally found some rhythm connecting with receiver Markus Stinger Olesen for a long gain, a touchdown and the game-tying two point conversion. However, with the teams even at 15-15 and the Razorbacks gathering momentum, DeLancelottie lost his composure. First he was penalized for intentional grounding, a call he vehemently argued. Then, the tossed his fifth interception of the game. If that was not enough, the team was then called for unsportsmanlike conduct.  That gave Copenhagen the ball on the Razorbacks nine yard line.

The Triangle defense kept their heads thought and mounted a crucial goal-line stand. Copenhagen could only come away with a field goal taking an 18-15 lead with just over four minutes left.

Then the Razorbacks committed another turnover as usually sure-handed running back Geoffery Lewis fumbled on third down in Towers territory. So with just over two minutes to go, Copenhagen only needed to run the clock out. Instead, they were forced into a three and out handing the ball back to the Razorbacks with a minute 40 left.

This time DeLancelotti made no mistake, guiding his team down the field and throwing a 33 yard touchdown strike to  Oliver Holmlund, taking the lead.

The Towers last gasp effort ended up with a Skyum interception and the Razorbacks took home their seventh Danish championship title.

Photo credits: Per Kronvold