SKY THE LIMIT AS STORM FACE GALAXY TEST
The Nordic Storm return to European League of Football action this weekend and, with the Frankfurt Galaxy coming to Gladsaxe Stadium, will face the biggest test of their maiden season so far.
Both teams have made strong starts to the campaign and sit atop their respective divisions, and Sunday’s clash could end up having a major impact on the play-off ambitions of both, with several equally big games on the horizon.
“I think it’s great that we’re going to meet one of my old teams in Frankfurt,” ELF veteran and Storm cornerstone Joachim Christensen admitted. “It is a good team and a good organisation, and the team has a tradition of always being physical and playing hard. I know some of the players, so it should be fun to see them again on Sunday.”
With three wins in their first three games, the home team has enjoyed a dream start to their debut season and wasted little time cementing itself as a potential contender for the championship game.
“It is obviously huge to play at home in ELF, and the fact that we have started with three wins out of three is a perfect starting point for the rest of the season,” Christensen noted, as the Storm face their second game at Gladsaxe this year. “It’s great to be able to be part of this project in Denmark and Sweden, especially with my experience.”
No-one will know more about how comfortable the opening sequence of opponents have been for the Storm than quarterback Jadrian Clark — a title winner the past two seasons with Rhein Fire — who has delivered above all expectations, with 13 thrown touchdowns and, perhaps more impressively, zero interceptions in his three games wearing the Nordic jersey.
Clark has been quick to form a productive partnership with wide receiver Brendan Beaulieu, who is also leads the statistics at his position, with a whopping 395 yards and six touchdowns — and several other big plays called back due to penalties, notably last time out against Berlin.
One area of some concern, however, is the run game, where the Storm found the going tough against the Thunder. With MVP running back Glen Toonga lost for the season before half-time in the opening game, his replacements combined for just 67 yards in Week 3, well below the standard set across the league in the first few games of the season. One reasons, however, is that newcomer Jordan
Genmark Heath — signed just days before the Berlin game — was still getting dialled into head coach John Shoop’s motion-rich and complex offensive system. With a bye week and plenty of time to acclimatise, expect Genmark Heath to start racking up yards and scores before too long.
The Nordic defense, if anything, has been even more impressive that its offense over the first three games, allowing just two touchdowns and two field goals to their opponents from Switzerland, Poland and Germany. The defensive line, in particular, has managed to create pressure on the opposing quarterback in every game so far, clocking up a league-high 12 sacks to date, with Max Parkinson topping the individual table with five of his own.
The linebacker position has been characterised by two Swedish tackling machines in Ludvig Myren and Hugo Dyhrendahl. The duo have made a total of 40 tackles together and, in Myren’s case, and additional five tackles for loss, while the defensive backs have shut down opposing passing attacks, with Khalid Adisa, Luke Glenna, Chad Walrond and Exavier Edwards setting the tone amid obvious chemistry from the start.
The Galaxy, however, have also found a winning groove — and despite a more difficult match schedule than faced by the Storm. Although the season got off to a rough start, losing to a strong Stuttgart Surge team, since then Frankfurt haven’t looked back. Wins over top teams from Madrid and Paris preceded the outclassing of the hapless Cologne Centurions, but even running up the score on the German whipping boys had little effect on an impressive 121 points totalled over three games, an average of over 40 points per outing.
That potent offense is led by American quarterback Matthew McKay, who has enjoyed a great season so far, distributing the ball to his many receivers. But, if the passing game has worked well, the offense still runs through the former New York Giant Sandro Platzgummer. Although the Austrian was rested against the Centurions, he still leads the league in rushing yards, with 405 at an insane average of over 10 yards per carry. It helps too that, in front of him, Platzgummer has Dane Steven Nielsen and Briton Keanu Ebanks making up probably the best tackle duo the league has ever seen.
On defense, they may have conceded a few more points than expected, at an average of 27 per game, but have definitely shown their teeth, with the US cornerback duo of Channing Stribling and Shyheim Battle looking especially dangerous. Along with UK linebacker Toby Nailor, they will be charged with keeping Clark, Beaulieu and Genmark Heath corralled as the Storm look to go 4-0 and take another big step towards the playoffs.
“As long as we win matches, remain fairly injury-free and focus on the things we have to do, I think our chances are good,” Christensen concluded. “But the season is long and everyone is good in this league, so it’s about taking one game at a time and then we’ll see what happens from there. “