On the 12th of May the Zagreb Patriots and the Budapest Wolves met for the first time since the Patriots joined the CEFL. The Wolves proved that the Patriots were no match for them, winning easily 54-7.
The game was crucial for both teams: the Croatians needed a win to keep their slim playoff chances alive, while the Wolves –- with one win and two losses –- are fighting for the right to host the first playoff game in Budapest.
It started on a different note: the Patriots strengthened their lineup with three Americans, while the Wolves had their injured key players back, including running backs Péter Cseperkaló and Obi Mbagwu.
But only the first quarter proved to be exciting. After a quick Wolves touchdown, the Patriots answered right back with a Marko Horvat touchdown run and after a converted extra point the visiting team was ahead.
But with the start of the second quarter the Wolves defense turned it on, the secondary showed their best form of the season and the defensive unit did not allow a point for the rest of the game. The offense also scored two more touchdowns, a quarterback sneak by Csaba Juhász, a
reception by Krisztián Piros and András Storcz added two field goals. The Wolves had a comfortable 26-7 lead by half time.
The Hungarian team kept the pace for the second half, scoring four more touchdowns. Wolves running backs divided the points equally as every back scored once: Lenner, Mbagwu and Csizmazia during the second half. Receiver Andras Storcz (#81) caught a long pass from Juhász to set the final score of 54-7.
With the win the Budapest Wolves are 2-2 and currently in 3rd place behind Belgrade and Ljubljana, but the true test comes in two weeks when the Vukovi Belgrade visit the Wolves for the 2011 CEFL finals rematch once again on the verz nice location that is Margaret Island in Budapest.