What does intimidation look like?

If you had the opportunity to schedule a playoff game at a date and time that would knowingly keep 2 two-way athletes and the coaches from having the ability to show up to the game to play against you, would you jump at that opportunity, or would you take the high road and schedule the game when all of those entities could be involved even though you would have a decreased chance of winning the game? Well, if you are the Tyreso Royal Crowns of the Swedish Super Series you would choose the low road. At least that’s what they did when they altered their Stockholm home game’s kickoff time for their under 19 semi-final competing against the Carlstad Crusaders so that it matched perfectly with that of the already scheduled Crusaders senior semi-final match in Carlstad, 4 hours away. What’s more, they were unwilling to change after having had multiple offers to play this game on another day or time in order to resolve the situation.

One could imagine the fear that must have been the groundwork of making that decision. Coaches Eli Cranor and myself along with the best U19 player in the Super Series in WR Robin Juhlin, and recently voted All-Europe MLB Christian Kuylenstjerna stayed in Carlstad to ensure the victory of the Senior team while the rest of our teammates who had devoted countless hours of physical and mental preparation that spanned the whole summer, from May until this month, headed to Stockholm and fought valiantly in a 25-6 defeat. What difference would 2 players and 2 coaches make… maybe none, maybe a lot, what will forever be unknown cannot be dwelled upon. However, when making decisions that could possibly add an asterisk onto a victory, or worse an asterisk onto a championship; I for one would like to avoid that at all cost.

Carlstad Offense explodes in 54-7 playoff victory

A heap of nervous energy previewed the ball game yesterday in Karlstad, Sweden. Energy that was about to unload on the incoming Orebro Black Knights. The Knights had made the Super Series playoffs for the first time in club history, and were rolling off of 2 straight victories that had propelled them into the final 4. They were not prepared for the onslaught that Eli Cranor and company had brewing, nor were they prepared for the defensive wall that was put up against their offense. The lone touchdown in the second quarter on a Cody Ladutko pass was one of the only bright spots for the visitors. The Crusaders jumped at the opportunity to display their firepower to a home crowd for the final time in 2011. Eli threw for 329 yards on 22-33 and 6 TD's passing to 4 different receivers. Fredrik Isaksson was the standout on the day hauling in 8 Cranor passes for 174 yards and 3 scores. Despite having similar time of possession statistics, the Crusaders outgained the Knights 32-10 in first downs, and 483 to 145 in total yards.

As a result the Crusaders have earned a spot in the final 2 teams in the Super Series. The Championship game will be played Saturday, September 24th in Uppsala, Sweden a northern area of Stockholm. The competitor is yet to be determined as the 2nd ranked Tyreso Royal Crowns (8-2) face off with the 3rd ranked Stockholm Mean Machine (4-6) today at 5pm in southern Stockholm. Look forward to a preview of the Swedish final sometime later this week. Another place to grab up to date information on football in Sweden is the online magazine, The Catch.

Super Series Semi-Final upon Karlstad, Sweden

This weekend the Orebro Black Knights in their first year of the top division in Sweden, the Super Series, have the largest task in the history of their organization. Travel to Karlstad and take on the defending national champions and top 10 ranked team in all of Europe, the Carlstad Crusaders. Sounds daunting, but the Black Knights have something going for them. Three weeks ago they sat on the brink of extermination, needing to win two games against the two teams that were directly ahead of them in the standings. All they did is rattle off 2 victories, the first against the Stockholm Mean Machine in a thriller 37-26, then in a playoff to get into the playoffs they beat the STU Northside Bulls this past weekend 28-6. Being a first year team to the top division has it's perks. They have had less expectations than any other team in the league. The way they have finished the season has definitely put them into the zone of having a successful season. Now they have the chance to reach the finals in their first season. Standing in their way, is a team that has beaten them two times this season 30-8 in Orebro and more recently 35-6 in early August at Tingvalla Stadium in downtown Karlstad. The Crusaders scored 399 points in the regular season (39.9 per game) and allowed just 103 (10.3 per game). They boast the leading passer (Eli Cranor), the top two leading rushers (Eli Cranor, Christian Forsman), and the leading receiver (Fredrik Eklund) in the Super Series. The game this weekend will display the top ranked Crusader squad as well as import QB Cody Ladutko spinning the ball to the Black Knight star Johan Stal who played for this very Crusader team just last season during their homerun season winning their first ever league championship. Newly acquired defensive end Kwame Jordan hailing from Louisiana Tech has been a spark for this Black Knight squad, helping bring them to this high point in their organization.

The game this weekend, kicking off at 2pm CET should provide the folks of Karlstad another huge game in the history of football in Sweden. The Crusaders have reloaded their attack after coming off of their first loss in a Super Series game since 2009, due in part to the various injuries suffered just prior to that game. Tune in to the twitter account linked at the right edge of this blog, titled Crusaders live updates, to keep pace with the contest.

A preview of the Swedish Playoffs has been created by www.thecatch.se which is an online magazine devoted to covering Swedish football. A portion of this article have been translated here into English:

Carlstad favorites of another finals

The semifinal between the Crusaders and Carlstad Örebro Black Knights on Tingvalla IP in Karlstad. Crusaders have been the dominant figure in this year's series. But last weekend went Crusaders their first loss in Swedish soil since 2009 when perhaps somewhat surprisingly defeated by Tyresö.

A contributing factor to the loss was no doubt that it lacked two of its best players on offense. Running back # 3 Christian Forsman has rested in recent matches because of a knee injury, while wide receiver # 9 Fredrik Eklund resisted because of a concussion. Forsman's and Eklund's absence meant that Carlstad missing two of the Super Series definitely talented skill players. Forsman has closed its way for 639 yards in this year's basic series and Eklund's Super Series-leading receiver with 777 yards on 43 receptions. Together, the pair Forsman and Eklund made the whole 23 touchdowns. Having them in the game to Saturday is of course a huge addition for Crusaders.

Apart from the matches against Tyresö, both of which were regular stories, has Carlstad been uncompromising in years and have had nothing but secure victories. It has been Sweden's best lines on both offense and defense, quarterback imports # 11 Eli Cranor has played phenomenal all season and the defense looks including # 19 Olof Flemström and # 50 John Bear that no one is let through in the middle just like that. At the back it has experienced foxes # 30 Anders Hjerpseth, # 20 Olof Eriksson and understood multiathlete # 12 Joey Stein. Stein has been with injury problems during parts of the season but showed good form against Tyresö, not least by taking a punt return all the way to touchdown. Nor should we forget about # 23 Calle Morin has done a very nice rookie season in the Crusaders secondary.

Statistically Carlstad has been in a class by itself. Offensive has produced nearly 1,000 yards more than any other team and the defense gives you only up 3.5 yards per play, also a figure no other team can match. They have poured in points during the season despite sporting enough aired all players and playing more conservatively once they decided the matches.

Örebro on a roll

Orebro Black Knights set an ambitious target for the season. The team would go to the finals and although it looked bad for just a few weeks ago the team managed to reach the goal. A very convincing victory against the Stockholm Mean Machines and a clear benefit to the STU in the last round means that Black Knights go into the playoffs with a lot of confidence.

Although Örebro are newcomers in the Super Series, there are plenty of routine in the team. And it was also the team's most experienced players who showed the way to the playoffs. Running back # 46 Anton Källvik was strong in the match against the STU and # 86 John Steel, one of the best receivers in modern times, showed much leadership in Stockholm where he had a great match with several crucial games. Steel played initially in the season a lot on defense but has in recent matches has taken an increasing role in passningsspelet. Other receivers, among them # 5 Gustav Andersson and # 3 Tobias Wahlström has also played well during the year which means that the quarterback # 6 Cody Ladutko has several targets to choose from.

Just Ladutko is another player who is playing better at the end. Ladutko came to Sweden with the high expectations that are always put at quarterback imports but received some criticism for initially not up to expectations. In the last four games have Ladutko however, played much better. For example, he had a completion rate of 59% after a strong summer, compared with more moderate 45% in six games this spring. Ladutko has just thrown one interception after the summer break, a significant improvement compared to the eight he had in the spring.

Defensively, Örebro played well all year and you actually have the series' third-best defense after Carlstad and Tyresö. Defensive line is strong with names that talented # 93 Claes Uneståhl, deserving imports # 7 Kwame Jordan, and especially young forever # 99 Abdel Seidou at 39 yearsold, despite continuing to be a super athlete. Behind the line is # 44 Niklas Persson Gyhlfe had a huge season with 50 tackles.

The problem for the Black Knights is that you must succeed in stopping Carlstad both on land and in the air. In the first meeting dealt Örebro passing plays well and held Carlstad to a season low 145 yards in the air. Crusaders switched on when the running game where they took all of 257 yards. In the second game, the meeting focused on the Black Knights to stop Carlstad running game. They managed and Carlstad took just 77 yards on the ground, but in return the Crusaders found gaps in Örebro pass defense and could be fit for 349 yards. It remains to see how head coach Peter Ericson and other coaching staff intend to solve the task on Saturday.

Bogey in Carlstad?

Given that Carlstad won the previous two games by a total of 65-14 and given the Carlstad fantastic games during the season gets Crusaders understood mega favorites on Saturday. What still makes it, after all, can be match is the mental part. For this Carlstad team it is an unfamiliar feeling to lose and it has happened more than once in the Super Series history to win habit teams end up out of sorts after an unexpected loss.

Orebro, on the other hand, goes to Tingvalla with a confidence that is called to do. They got going, and succeeded against all odds to get to the playoffs. A team of prosperity is always dangerous and the Black Knights would get a good start with early points while successfully stopping Carlstad's powerful offensive, there may be gaps, even in the most experienced and skilled team of Crusaders.

Those who get to Tingvalla IP in Karlstad at 17:00 on Saturday night will see if Orebro can cause a real playoff bang.

4th ranked Crusaders of Sweden fall in regular season finale

The game this past weekend was the first time since early May that the Crusaders tasted defeat by an opponent. 21-12 was the final score in a contest that the up and coming Tyreso Royal Crown have waited for for more than 10 years. Beating the 4th ranked team in Europe most definitely will be a shining accomplishment on their season. The game was hard fought and the Crowns needed to come from behind after the Crusaders scored on a 76 yard punt return on the first drive and Eli had a dazzling scramble making what seemed to be the whole Tyreso defense miss for our second touchdown. Both PAT's were missed giving us the early 12-0 lead that we took into half time. The second half showed some miscues offensively, and rightly so when Sweden's second leading rusher and 3 of the top 12 receivers in Sweden all 4 were on the bench due to injury. The game did not have an effect on the outcome of the season for either team, as each team had already clinched home games for the semi-final. This did not change the mentality of either team as both vied for this coveted victory. Tyreso found some holes in the pass defense finding big plays a couple of times on Crusader missed assignments, then they used a power running attack to reach the endzone. They scored in the 3rd quarter, and took the lead late in the 4th quarter. The Crusaders always had a chance to take the lead until the 3rd TD of the game came with a minute left. The Crown defense had a great gameplan for the offense that they faced by bringing pressure to the running attack and pass protection of the Crusaders and playing a very physical style of pass coverage. The game provided some interest I'm sure for viewers around the league, which will most definitely prove beneficial heading into the semi-final weekend, and the finals next weekend.

What is football in Europe?

I recently came across this video done by endzonetv, it is a description of european football and how it has progressed.

Game of the week gives 2 teams a shot at playoffs

Everything in the Super Series has gone according to just about what could be expected this season. All up until this past weekend. The playoffs were all but set, the 4th ranked STU Bulls just needed to sign on the dotted line and seal their fate, but as was the case last weekend, "on paper" and "on the field" are two completely separate things. The 5th ranked Orebro Black Knights needed many things to occur in order for them to reach the playoffs in their first ever season in the top division. The 6th ranked Arlanda Jets beat the STU Bulls, 10-8, for their first win of the season, and Orebro exploded from their 12 points per game average and beat the 3rd ranked Stockholm Mean Machine 37-26. Both of these games had their own level of excitement and each were not decided until late in the game. The Jets scored in the first quarter against the Bulls, after the Bulls scored with less than 5 minutes in the game to take an 8-7 lead the Jets marched down the field in a 13 play drive culminating in a field goal and a huge upset victory. In Orebro, the Knights on their last leg to reach the playoffs battled back and forth with the Machine. The Mean Machine had the ball with 10 minutes remaining and the lead, 26-23 at which point the Knights intercepted a John Russell pass and returned it for the score. They added another score with 4 minutes left and put the game out of reach. The interception was the lone dull spot on an otherwise impressive Super Series debut for SMM quarterback John Russell. Russell threw for 324 yards and 4 touchdowns in his first game wearing Red and Blue. The Knights had not had the chance to triumph in the hard work that they had put forth all season. With close loss after close loss this win finally puts a mark on their season that is so positive and well timed, it may just spark them into the playoffs.

SMM vs. Orebro Highlights

With these results all is prepared for a showdown between Orebro and STU this Saturday for the right to enter the playoffs and travel to top ranked Karlstad. With the top 2 teams in the league, Carlstad and Tyreso, facing each other in southern Stockholm it's hard to believe that could possibly not be the game of the week. However, with the recent turn of events, Orebro will wait at home for the Bulls with kickoff set for 4pm local time. In this week's game of the week, the Black Knights and the STU Bulls each control their own destinies. The newly energized knights led by QB Cody Ladutko and do-everything WR/FS Johan Stal face off with Swedish national team QB Anders Hermodsson and import RB/WR Noah Sandersson.

Stay tuned to find out who will come out of this on top and head to Carlstad to face Europe's 4th ranked Crusaders.

Humboldt State live on TV against Central Washington, and Italy for the weekend

Another break in the season gave Mary and I the blessed chance to explore more of this extravagant land they call Europe. We had a weekend off before our 3 week chase for the crown of Sweden, and with the weather heading towards winter here in southern Sweden we chose Italy. We flew into Pisa and stayed the night indulging in some of the tastiest pizza and gelato that this world offers. We took an early morning train to Cinque Terra and stayed two days in one of the most glorious and non-commercialized corners of planet earth. Mary and I were offered clear blue water swims and seaside snacks of seafood and pasta, combined with hiking the natural trails weaving their way through Italian mountain vineyards. After enough fun in the sun we turned for Pisa one last time and spent the evening searching the stars underneath the leaning tower. Now we are back in Sweden and prepping ourselves for a regular season final against the #2 team from Sweden, followed by a well deserved home semifinal-game that is the result of 9 straight wins in a recently more competitive league. Tune in later this week for more information on the Super Series.

In other unrelated news my Alma mater, Humboldt State University will be putting on display one of the most unique and simply stunning venues in college football this Thursday night when CBS Sports broadcasts live their contest with Central Washington University from Northern California's gem, the Redwood Bowl. The Bowl is situated amongst the giant redwood trees alongside the California Coast in beautiful Arcata, California. All one can see while entering the stadium at night is the light streaming through the tip tops of these massive evergreens. The Lumberjacks of Humboldt are 1-0 on this early season and beat this same CWU team last season for the first time in 15 years. If you have some free time, tune in at 5pm Pacific Standard Time translating to 2am Central European Time at your local CBS Sports channel or by following this link for online viewers: HSU vs. CWU live