The heat is on

Sportklub CEFL Championship is continuing on Saturday with a quadruple program. Home teams from the first round have all won pretty convincingly. They will now be hosted in the quarterfinals by the highest-achieving teams from last season and the AFL champion who’s returning to the tournament.

CEFL Championship, Round 2
Saturday, 11 May, 15:00 CET
Danube Dragons Vienna — Guelfi Firenze
Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCLTTEUyllY

The Viennese are coming back to the CEFL Championship after a year of hiatus. Reaching the second round was their highest achievement in 2022, when they were stopped by another Italian contestant, Parma Panthers. However, this is a much different team than the one from two years ago. As the Austrian champion from last season, this time they’ve skipped the opener.

At the moment Danube Dragons are 3-2 in the AFL with half the season to go. The two Ls came from their cross-town rivals, the Vikings, and this season’s CEFL Championship contestant, Thalheim Graz Giants. With two German-speaking quarterbacks, they’re putting their offensive hopes in the American RB Madre London, while the LB Hakeem Kinard will shore up the defense.

Meanwhile, the Italian league is drawing closer to the end of the regular season. Guelfi Firenze have already clinched their playoff appearance with a 5-1 score and 2 games left to play. Their only stumble was against Varese Scorpions, a team that’s disrupting the status quo. Before the national semifinals the Florentines will be tested by Ancona Dolphins and Parma Panthers.

In the first round their team has bested Belgrade SBB Vukovi 37-27, taking advantage of their hapless opponents’ many mistakes. Andrea Fimiani was playing behind the center, with Ryan Deluca stepping in at times. Both of them were good for 3 TDs each: Fimiani for 2 passing and 1 rushing, and Deluca as an all-around threat for one each from passing, catching and rushing plays.

CEFL Championship, Round 2
Saturday, 11 May, 15:00 CET
Flash de La Courneuve — Stockholm Mean Machines
Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sCn7bonS80

If anyone needs reminding, the Flash are the standing champions, triumphing narrowly 26-21 over their French compatriots Thonon Black Panthers in last year’s CEFL Bowl XVII. They haven’t done as well in the French national league last season though. Entering their playoffs as a heavy favorite with no losses, they fell to the inspired Marseille Blue Stars in the semifinal game.

With only a single one-point loss during this French regular season and as many games to play, they’ve secured a playoff spot. That will see them skip the wild card and host the semifinals again. If they survive the Northerners’ raid they’ll do the same in the CEFL Championship. Helping them accomplish this are the big import guys, offensive lineman Hans Solberg and tight end Darius Dawsey.

The Mean Machines are unbeatable for the third straight season in the Swedish national league. Their 4-0 record so far just past the mid-season is proving that. Still, they have yet to play another undefeated team represented by Carlstad Crusaders to decide the top position before the playoffs. Whatever the outcome of that game, they are a shoo-in for the national post-season.

As a host in the opening round, the Swedes have promptly dealt with the newcomers to the CEFL Championship, Manchester Titans. Mateo Renteria has posted 4 passing touchdowns, 1 to Robin Gavelin Miranda and 3 to Matthew Retzlaff. The team won’t benefit from that last combo this time though, opting to switch Retzlaff with another import, DL-man Mauricio Cooper Barrera.

CEFL Championship, Round 2
Saturday, 11 May, 18:00 CET
Thonon Black Panthers — Thalheim Graz Giants
Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9Th8AOQkv0

The Black Panthers were easily last season’s most pleasant surprise. Due to their CEFL Championship ranking, all of their games were on the road. Even so, they’ve knocked off Calanda Broncos, Otel Guelfi Firenze and Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, falling short of the title against the Flash in the finals. They’ve done better in the French championship, claiming the national crown.

This time around the picture is not so rosy. They’ve mustered 4 wins from 8 games in France, losing once and drawing three times! The team will fight for the playoff spot in the last two games. Before that, the Giants will present a much more trying challenge. Overseas players who will guide the Black Panthers’ offensive efforts are play caller K’Hari Lane and tight end Odell Turnbull.

The Austrians are in a better position in their national league. They had a perfect 5-0 record until they met Vienna Vikings last weekend. In the final 2 national league games they’ll have replays with the Vikings and 2018 CEFL Championship contestants, Prague Black Panthers. The way they were going so far, the Giants look poised to take one of the semifinal spots in the AFL.

The team exhibited scoring potential on both offense and defense when they welcomed Kragujevac Wild Boars in the first round. They peeled off with a defensive score from a pick six by defensive back Moritz Koschak. Offensive side then took over, with a rushing touchdown by Josef Rock and then a Nicolas Visser to Valentin Reißner connection for a 48 yard score.

CEFL Championship, Round 2
Saturday, 11 May, 19:00 CET
Parma Panthers — Calanda Broncos
Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMhEIxj3DsQ

Parma Panthers are coming back to the CEFL Championship for the third season in a row. On their first try they went straight to the CEFL Bowl XVI, losing to the favored Unicorns. Last year they couldn’t get over that hump, dropping in the semifinals to the Flash. They’ve deserved their high rank in the CEFL Championship this year by winning the 2023 Italian national league.

Repeating the same feat seems very distant this season. Parmigianos are currently 4th in Italy with a 3-3 score and two more weeks to play. Their regular season decider for the Italian playoffs will be a repeat of last-season’s finals versus Guelfi Firenze. For Saturday they’ll have to pick 2 of their 3 imports: QB Robert Patterson, WR Michael Alfieri, and LB Jaylin Parnell.

The Swiss champions are cruising in their national league again. At mid-point of the season they are atop the national standings table with a 5-0 record. There are still a lot of hurdles to clear but the Broncos again look very self-assured. Their toughest national trial might come in two anticipated games versus Zürich Renegades, which are another undefeated team in the Alps.

The opening matchup was smooth sailing for the Broncos. As it turned out, their win was already in the bag by half time with 26 points tallied, as their defense reduced Copenhagen Towers to 10 points on the day. Quarterback Robin Sennrich recorded 3 touchdowns for the Swiss, 1 rushing and 2 passing. Maxwell Gray totaled a triplicate himself, 2 rushing and 1 catching score.