The Game of the week comes to us from Germany and faces two of the top 12 teams in Europe against one another. As the GFL nears it's playoff selection (3 games remaning), garnering 8 spots to the top 4 teams from each of the two divisions, games become ever more important. A classic matchup between the historically powerful southern Marburg Mercenaries, coached by the highly respected Joe Roman, who have had international wins in years past and have been the top team from the south in recent years and their opponent in this affair are most recently crowned as German Champions, with an undefeated first 11 games of the German season, and ranked 5th on the continent of Europe are the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes. Their only negative mark on the season is the early departure from the EFL in a 20-22 overtime loss to Europe's 4th ranked Carlstad Crusaders of Sweden. Marburg at 10-1 and ranked 12th in Europe this season have only lost to the undefeated Schwabisch Hall Unicorns.
This matchup most recently went to the team from the south, when in the first week of the 2010 season the Mercenaries traveled up to the Baltic and beat the Canes at home 22-19. In this season both teams have statistically performed as well as any team in the league in various areas.
The Hurricanes are 2nd in scoring offense (35p/g) and top the league in scoring defense (14p/g), while the Mercenaries are 3rd in Germany in both categories (30, 17p/g). The biggest question mark in this game will be in the ground game. The Hurricanes bash for a league second best 179 rushing yards a game. Behind a big German offensive line runs import running back Michael Andrew (England) who is second in the league in yards per game on the ground. From the Mercenary point of attack they have allowed a miniscule 46 yards per game which is by far the fewest of any German team thus far. Something has to give, and it will for one of these elements this weekend. The multi threat Kiel offense also has an established passing game that is 3rd in the league at 222 yards/game. Import Quarterback Jeff Welsh (Western Michigan) and import wideout Aaron Love (FCS, U of Delaware) have connected tremendously as has German ball catcher Julien Dohrendorf. Marburg's offense fires well also, at 5th in passing and 4th in rushing in the GFL this season. The only rusher to outlast Kiel's Andrew is import ball carrier Joe Clark (Div. II, Augustana) for the Mercenaries who leads the league with 147 yards per game. German QB Joachim Ullrich has reached 4th in the league in both passing efficiency and yards per game.
While both teams have performed well enough to have clinched playoff berths they are both fighting for playoff position and this game will have definite implications for the rankings. Marburg faces the toughest challenge of any German team having to face undefeated teams in each of its last three matchups. This week and next against this Hurricane squad due to a rescheduled game earlier this season, and the regular season finale against the undefeated Unicorns. At 4pm local time the Baltic Canes bring their top 5 team down to Marburg to face last year's south German champs.
Finally, the GFL website has done an incredible job of updating both news and statistics, making writing more enjoyable. All other leagues should use the GFL website as a template.
