AFTER PARIS, IT’S RIEN NE VA PLUS FOR ELF’S VIKINGS

The Vienna Vikings took another step towards divisional success in the European League of Football on Sunday, and now hope that they have made the right roster moves to carry them to a repeat appearance in the 2025 Championship Game.

The Vikings defeated the Paris Musketeers in an instant ELF classic at the weekend, needing all of their ability to go toe-to-toe with their French hosts on an afternoon where members of the New Orleans Saints were honoured guests at the Stade Robert Bobin.

While veteran NFL linebacker Demario Davis partied with the Musketeers’ Red Company supporters group, however, things did not turn out quite so well for the French side on the field as Vienna demonstrated their title ambitions with a 40-33 victory that confirmed a seventh win in eight games and maintained top spot in the East Division.

Although both teams started nervously, with missed opportunities dominating the first half, both improved after the interval, with quarterbacks Ben Holmes (Vikings) and Jaylon Henderson (Musketeers) both inspiring their teams in their own style. With improved offensive line play on both sides, Holmes repeatedly found gaps in an otherwise strong Paris defense, while the Vikings’ D — in part due to injuries — had its hands full trying to keep their rivals in check.

Vienna delivered the decisive moment in the final phase, with running back Florian Wegan scoring the touchdown that gave them the lead with just under three minutes remaining. A successful two-point conversion from Holmes to wide receiver Reece Horn increased the lead to seven points before, on the Musketeers’ final offensive series, defensive back Leo Gerner hauled in an interception to extinguish any hopes of a comeback.

The win in Paris ensures that the Vikings stay ahead of the Wroclaw Panthers in the East Division standings, while Paris remain second in the West Division behind Stuttgart. For Vienna, however, there is little time to recover before their next test, as those same Panthers — fresh from a surprise victory in Prague that puts them at 5-3 — wait for them in Poland this coming Saturday.

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With the ELF signing deadline passing in the 48 hours after Week 9’s slate had been completed, rien ne va plus is an appropriate phrase for all 16 teams. While ‘phones were ringing off the hook, and emails and WhatsApp messages were bounced back and forth, literally ‘nothing more is possible’ for the franchises, regardless of their season’s ambitions. The only exception is in the case of a proven injured quarterback who, in theory, can be replaced until the end of the season.

“We have a maximum roster of 65 players, of which we are allowed to fill 10 spots with import players. That’s well known,” Vikings head coach Chris Calaycay confirmed. “The rest are homegrown players, which this year also includes Italian athletes who come from a clearly defined region of Italy. Of course, you always want to fill the roster spots as intelligently as possible in order to be personnel-ready for the rest of the season — based on needs, especially due to injuries, and with regard to quality squad depth. You play through scenarios in your head and want to be as optimally prepared as possible for all eventualities.”

With players having been scouted for weeks, if not months, and preliminary interviews already held, intensive work in the wake of the win in Paris was still required to obtain the athletes’ licenses. Tough decisions had to be made before Calaycay and his staff settled on the list of players they hope will take them all the way to September success in Stuttgart.

“We would like to thank Devin Taylor and Viljo Lempinen, who replaced the injured Amani Dennis and Elmeri Laalo and made a decisive contribution to our success so far,” the head coach noted. “We also wish our injured players all the best for a speedy recovery.”

Vienna Vikings Roster Moves — Week 10

Activated from IR
DB Elmeri Laalo
DB Amani Dennis

Placed on IR
DL Florian Grünsteidl
WR Andrea Serra
DB Rocco Zucchelli
DB Linus Gantar

Released
DB Devin Taylor
DB Viljo Lempinen

Signed
DE Leon Balogh
OL Aleksandar Milanovic
DL Maximilian Hradecny
DB Christoph Kellner
DB Valentin Reißner
DB Moritz Koschak
LB Valentin Bader
WR Matteo Mozzanica