Huge upset in Germany! Berlin Rebels stun the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions in Braunschweig
The Berlin Rebels used a three touchdown performance in the first quarter and then held on to defeat the previously unbeaten Braunschweig New Yorker Lions 26-21 in Braunschweig Sunday.
This was the first time the Rebels have won a game in Braunschweig since 2012, when Berlin beat the Lions 34-24.
With a crowd of 3,200 looking on, Berlin stunned the Lions and silenced the crowd on the opening possession as quarterback Terrell Robinson tossed a beautiful 67 yard touchdown pass to a streaking Joshua Simmons who ran untouched into the end zone to give the Rebels a 7-0 lead.
Things then went downhill for Braunschweig.
On the Lions first series, quarterback Jadrian Clark threw the ball into the waiting arms of Berlin defensive back Paul Seifert at the Braunschweig 27 yard line who returned to the 13. Robinson wasted no time connecting with running back Sean Richard, extending the lead to 14-0.
Braunschweig finally came untracked on the next series as Clark drove them down to the Berlin two yard line. Lennies McFerren punched the ball in edging the Lions closer, 14-6. The Rebels managed to block the PAT
Anyone who thought the Lions were finally back in the ball game received another shock.
Robinson promptly marched his team into Lions territory again, finishing the drive off with a 35 yard touchdown pass to Richard, increasing the lead to 21-6 in the first quarter.
The Rebels defense seemed to have rattled Clark as on the next series, his pass to Nico Schumann was tipped into the hands of Berlin defender Antoni Omondi. Philip Friis Andersen kicked a 29 yard field goal extending the lead to 24-6, but more importantly, keeping the crowd out of the game.
The offensive woes of the Lions continued in the second half, as on the first possession of the third quarter, McFerren fumbled the ball on his own 35 yard line. Although, the Rebels could not capitalize, it was a sign the rest of the game would not go Braunschweig’s way.
With the Lions defense stepping up their play in the second half, Robinson could not find the same rhythm as the first half and the powerful Berlin running game was neutralized.
Although momentum had shifted, the New Yorker offense did not get rolling until the fourth quarter with Clark engineering a 76 yard drive finishing it with a 10 yard touchdown pass to Schumann, closing the gap to 24-13. The offense converted two fourth downs en route to the score.
The Lions recovered the onside kick from the foot of Tom van Duijn and three plays later, running back David McCants narrowed the lead to 24-21 with Niklas Römer adding the two-point conversion.
Berlin was forced to punt on the next series giving Lions supporters hope but a holding call in the end zone automatically gave the Rebels a two-point safety, increasing the lead to 26-21.
Braunschweig had one final chance as Clark moved his team down to the Berlin 16 yard line with 20 second remaining in the game. But another mistake by the offense effectively ended the game. Römer caught what looked like a first down pass inside the 10 yard line, but apparently he had gone out of bounds and returned to the field prior to catching the ball ruling him ineligible, turning the ball over to Berlin.
That ended the ball game with Berlin snapping the Braunschweig winning streak and improving their record to 5-2.
