Paris Musketeers stay undefeated in thriller against Galaxy

In a captivating Week 3 matchup in Paris, the Frankfurt Galaxy (0-2) narrowly fell to the Paris Musketeers (2-0), 25-22. The game was a roller-coaster of emotions, with both teams showing why they are top teams in the ELF.

The Musketeers began the game with two turnovers in the first quarter, which the Galaxy quickly capitalized on. Linebacker Daniel Josiah scored a defensive touchdown with a scoop-and-score, setting an early tone. However, the Musketeers quickly responded with a field goal and a touchdown to their wide-open running back on third down.

The Musketeers' defense then intercepted Galaxy quarterback Luke Zahradka, with the turnover leading to an offensive touchdown by tight end Kevin Mwamba, who scored against his former team for the first time since signing with the Musketeers. As halftime neared, the Galaxy closed the gap with another score, trailing by just one point.

The second half was a continued balanced battle between two top European League of Football teams. The Musketeers’ relentless blitz packages forced the Galaxy into several incompletions. Despite another Musketeers' touchdown, the Galaxy fought back with a spectacular pass and catch by wide receiver Kevin Kaya, who spun free and walked into the end zone. A successful two-point conversion brought the score to 25-22 with three minutes left.

A risky fake punt by the Musketeers led to a turnover on downs, giving the Galaxy a chance at the Musketeers' 31-yard line. However, the Galaxy couldn’t convert on third-down and were forced to punt. On their final drive, Zahradka’s pass was tipped by wide receiver Markell Castle and intercepted by Musketeers defensive back Chandler Jones, sealing the game.

The final score of 25-22 marked a thrilling victory for the Musketeers (2-0) and a heartbreaking loss for the Galaxy, who start out the season 0-2.

Berlin Thunder take care of business at home

In a dominant Week 3 performance, the Berlin Thunder secured a convincing 43-3 victory over the Fehérvár Enthroners at home today. Despite some early struggles, the Thunder showcased their strength in all phases of the game.

The Thunder initially struggled to get the ball into the end zone, not capitalizing on multiple red zone opportunities. A bad snap led to a fumbled field goal attempt, followed by a dropped pass by tight end Nicolai Schuhmann in the end zone a drive later, which forced another field goal try. This time, the kick was successful, putting the Thunder on the board late in the first quarter.

The Enthroners made numerous errors leading to penalties on the field, including a roughing the passer penalty on a crucial third-down. Quarterback Jakeb Sullivan connected with wide receiver Bais Kouanda on a deep pass to set up the Thunder offense for the rest of the game. However, a costly fumble and a failed trick play with just over a minute remaining in the first half gave the Enthroners a chance in the red zone, but they only managed to score a field goal.

Special teams also shown out for the Thunder, with Aaron Jackson returning a kickoff for a touchdown, bringing the score to 23-3 just before halftime. By this point, the Thunder were dominating in all three phases of the game, despite some mistakes that made the game appear closer than it was.

In the second half, the Thunder continued their dominance, ultimately sealing a 43-3 victory. This dominant win was a statement performance by the Berlin franchise, showcasing their potential moving forward.
 

Vienna Vikings triumph over Wrocław Panthers in dramatic fashion

In a thrilling Week 3 encounter in Wrocław, the Vienna Vikings pulled off a dramatic 16-13 victory over the Wrocław Panthers. The game, which started at 13:00 CEST, was marked by a series of pivotal moments that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

The Vikings faced early adversity with their American quarterback, Ben Holmes, sidelined and homegrown talent Alex Reischl stepping in. The first quarter saw the Vikings struggle, but they found their rhythm in the second quarter, making their first trip to the red zone. A missed field goal still kept them trailing by ten points, as the Panthers were the better team coming out at first.

Vikings QB Reischl began to find his targets, repeatedly connecting with American wide receiver Reece Horn. However, a near-touchdown pass to Jordan Bouah was narrowly overthrown, which ended the offensive drive. The Panthers' defense held strong, preventing the Vikings getting on the scoreboard until the final moments of the first half. With just 37 seconds left, Reischl delivered a perfect pass to Johannes Schütz, putting the Vikings on the board with their first points.

The Panthers had a chance to extend their lead with a run by quarterback Steve Duncan, but a holding call nullified the touchdown. An incomplete pass to tight end Adria Botella Moreno, despite a challenge, led to a field goal, bringing the score to 13-7 at halftime.

The fourth quarter was decisive. After a fumble by Duncan, the Vikings recovered and then scored a touchdown to take their first lead at 14-13. The Vikings defense gave everything they had in this game, with Exavier Edwards intercepting a pass in the end zone to end yet another Panthers drive. The Panthers’ last-ditch efforts resulted in a safety when Duncan was sacked by Vikings defensive end Leon Balogh, extending Vienna's lead to three points.

The Vikings (3-0) secured their 16-13 win with a final kneel-down, celebrating a hard-fought victory on the road without their starting quarterback over the Panthers (1-2).

Munich Ravens dominate unsorted Lions

A day to forget for the Prague Lions, with the Munich Ravens playing at another level in front of a great crowd in Unterhaching. While even subbing in backup quarterbacks Levin Adrom and Jannik Nowak, Munich dominated in every phase of the game - winning the game 51-7.

Chad Jeffries, Offensive Player of the Year-candidate of the 2023 season, showed great tranquility behind a grown offensive line, amassing for over 260 yards passing and three touchdowns, also rushing for a fourth. Lorenz Regler, two touchdowns, John Cole, one touchdown, and Justin Rodney, two touchdowns, added to the lead.

With one touchdown and over 50 yards, Adam Zouzelka, running back of the Prague Lions, was the best player on the field for the Czech franchise. Quarterback Karé Lyles had problems handling the sheer pressure put on him and the offensive line by opposing head coach and defensive coordinator Kendral Ellison, swarming the pocket in milliseconds.

Defensively, the Ravens had nine sacks, including players like Giovanni Nanguy, Evans Yeboah or international Tyler Vaimaona. Over 10 tackles for loss kept the offensive trips of the Lions to a bare minimum.

Starting with a 62-yard return to start the game by the Prague Lions, the Czechs appeared unsettled and unsorted by their own mistakes. Despite good efforts, the Lions made life difficult for themselves.