From BZ/dpa
The Potsdam Royals won the German Football League championship title for the first time in the 44th German Bowl on Saturday evening against defending champion Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns with an impressive 34:7 (6:7, 16:0 – 0:0, 12:0).
For the Brandenburgers, in the third duel after the GFL semi-finals in 2021 and the final last year, it was the first success in an important game against the “unicorns” and at the same time the greatest triumph in the club’s short history.
The “Royals” have been present in the German top league in American football since 2018. After the semi-finals in 2021 and runner-up in 2022, they were favorites for the title this year. And Potsdam started strong, quickly took the lead and acted like something out of a football textbook under the leadership of the outstanding quarterback Jaylon Henderson, who shone with runs and passes and used his teammates variably. Only at the beginning did Hall stand up and even led 7:6 after the first quarter.
Royals quarterback Jaylon Henderson celebrates his touchdown against the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns Photo: picture alliance/dpa
But then Potsdam switched gears and acted at will, scored two more touchdowns and scored with two two-point conversions. The halftime score of 22:7 seemed like a preliminary decision – and it was. The third quarter remained without points on both sides, Hall found no means to reduce the deficit and missed a field goal.
Henderson’s third touchdown at the beginning of the final quarter and defensive back Michael Lawson’s touchdown run over almost the entire field increased the score to 34:7.