THIS GIVEN SUNDAY: STORM WARNING AS TOP GAMES MATCH EXPECTATION
There were several fixtures on the Week 9 slate that offered salvation to the recent negativity surrounding the European League of Football and all delivered on a weekend where top teams found themselves in opposition.
Prior to kickoff, there were several candidates for Game of the Week, but a one-point margin in a comeback win — against a notable opponent — eventually settled the matter. With only a single blowout across seven matchups, albeit one which really cements Cologne’s status as the runt of the ELF litter, it was a better outcome for the league across the board, but those pressing for an improved product every week know only too well that the illusion could be temporary.
With the reigning champions and 2025’s final unbeaten team playing out a thriller in Copenhagen, the clash between division leaders Vienna and Paris in the French capital was forced to take second billing, but not for any lack of action or excitement on behalf of the Vikings and Musketeers. Indeed, Sunday’s opening encounter was one of three barnstormers to be decided in the final minutes, with quarterbacks Ben Holmes and Jaylon Henderson going head-to-head in very different styles. Holmes, for the visitors, was his usual clinical self, aided by a Vikings run game that gave the vaunted Paris defense all it could handle, while Henderson provided the fireworks in another virtuoso dual-threat offensive performance for the Musketeers. Both QBs were picked off once, and Henderson’s INT proved the most crucial, coming in the waning moments of the game as Paris attempted to respond to a Florian Wegan touchdown for the Vikings shortly before the two-minute warning. The rematch in Austria on the final weekend of the regular season will be one to watch.
Closing out Sunday’s stretch in the same timeslot as the Fire-Storm game, the Wrocslaw Panthers exacted some measure of revenge for the heavy shock defeat they suffered against Prague in Poland by edging the Lions on their return in the Czech capital. Two touchdowns to the good inside three minutes, the second inspired by a fumble recovery after A.J. Wentland hit RB Adam Zouzelka, Wroclaw looked good value for that revenge, but were made to work by a Prague side very different to previous seasons. Javarian Smith and Willie Patterson were again the secret to the Lions’ offense, with the QB accounting for four total touchdowns and his favourite target snaring one in another big yardage performance. Panthers QB D.J. Irons was as prolific as his opposite number, however, and eventually sealed the win for Wroclaw by plunging over with just 16 seconds left to play. Despite the result, both teams are still in the thick of the playoff picture, heaping extra pressure on their remaining games.
Sunday’s fourth matchup pitched the woebegone Centurions against a Berlin Thunder team that has struggled of late, both on the field and at the heart of rumours over their future. The outcome, which fell comfortably in the visitors’ favour with a four-touchdown showing from QB Jakeb Sullivan on his return under center, may serve as a tonic for the troops, while Cologne — who somehow managed to post two points as their only score for the second week in succession — must surely wish the season ended tomorrow as they slip to 0-8.
The Saturday slate had the potential for lopsided results but, on the scoreboard at least, both the Helvetic Mercenaries and Fehervar Enthroners made their opponents work for the win. In Switzerland, the Mercenaries were largely dominated by Munich’s defense, but replied with two touchdowns in face of a sustained Ravens’ rushing attack that sapped both energy and the clock. Likewise, in Spain, the Enthroners refused to throw in the towel against a superior Madrid Bravos defense, keeping their hosts close until half-time despite having to resort to homegrown Mate Hegedus at quarterback following the injury — and departure — of starter Brock Domann. On the other side, the Reid Sinnett-Aron Cruickshank machine continued to churn out the yards and scores, eventually pulling the Bravos clear of a potential surprise.
Midweek signing Jameson Wang put up some sensational numbers on his ELF debut, but could not help the Frankfurt Galaxy out of the slump that has now accumulated four back-to-back defeats. This time, it was German rivals Stuttgart inflicting damage on the Galaxy, seemingly having an answer for every bit of Wang’s inspired performance as QB Reilly Hennessey put up half a dozen touchdown tosses to take the heat off the Surge defense. At least, from Frankfurt’s point of view, it’s ‘on to Cologne’.
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WEEK 9 SCORES
12.07.2025
Munich Ravens 34 @ 20 Helvetic Mercenaries
Stuttgart Surge 54 @ 39 Frankfurt Galaxy
Fehérvár Enthroners 22 @ 49 Madrid Bravos
13.07.2025
Vienna Vikings 40 @ 33 Paris Musketeers
Berlin Thunder 45 @ 2 Cologne Centurions
Rhein Fire 24 @ 25 Nordic Storm
Wroclaw Panthers 41 @ 37 Prague Lions
Bye Week:
Hamburg Sea Devils, Raiders Tirol
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Game of the Week:
Rhein Fire 24 @ 25 Nordic Storm
It was billed as a game of ‘bad blood’ but proved to be anything but, as two of the ELF’s best went head-to-head for the first time amid an atmosphere of mutual respect. Yes, there was obviously an element of the Fire wanting to put one over on the quintet that jilted them at the end of last season, just as there was of those five (including the injured Glen Toonga) wanting to show that they could be difference makers regardless of the team they were on, but the game itself showcased all that the league aspires to be. It started badly for former Fire QB Jadrian Clark as he gifted the visitors a pick-six deep in his own end and when, having engineered the perfect comeback, the Storm missed on the ensuing two-point conversion, Clark found himself in pursuit mode for much of the afternoon. Another decision not to trust a kicked conversion doubled the deficit midway through the second period, before Rhein stretched their legs either side of the interval, adding a field goal and a third touchdown to go up 24-12. Clark responded by throwing a third touchdown of his own, this time to Brendan Beaulieu, to close the gap heading into the final quarter. The Storm then took the lead for the first time all afternoon with Clark finding Simon Føns for a second score, this time converted via kick by WR Jakob Niemann Green to send the home crowd into rapture in the face of a raucous travelling contingent. Clark, however, ensured the entire crowd remained on the edge of their seats by failing to capitalise on a Fire fumble, as his red zone INT handed the ball back to the visitors with plenty of time on the clock. This, however, coincided with the Storm defense stepping up in line with the crowd, denying Rhein QB Chad Jeffries the opportunity to perform the last-minute heroics his side needed.
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MVP of the Week
Reilly Hennessey (Stuttgart Surge)
On a weekend where multiple quarterbacks contributed four touchdowns, Hennessey’s six-gun proved to be the difference in what, for a long time, appeared to be a shootout with the Frankfurt Galaxy. With debutant Jameson Wang posting big numbers despite seemingly running for his life, the Galaxy kept within touching distance of their opponents until the end of the third period, when Hennessey embarked on a run of three straight scoring drives to put clear air between the sides. The American import, who clearly benefited from Stuttgart’s decision to rest a lot of their starters in Week 8, ended the game with numbers of 20-of-25 for 358 yards and six passing touchdowns, plus another with his legs from two yards out for good measure.
UPS
D.J. Irons (Wroclaw Panthers)
With more than pride on the line despite Prague’s win over the Panthers in Poland a few weeks previously, Irons proved to be the difference between the sides in the rematch, throwing for two touchdowns and adding two more on the ground, including the gamewinner with just seconds left on the clock. In addition, the QB posted numbers of 20-of-28 for 185 yards, as well as 13 carries for 154 more.
Jakeb Sullivan (Berlin Thunder)
Proving that he is the engine that makes the Thunder go, Sullivan returned from his Week 8 absence to throw for 252 yards and four touchdowns against the hapless Centurions.
Jaylon Henderson (Paris Musketeers)
Facing the clinical and efficient Ben Holmes on the opposite touchline, Henderson again underlined just how comfortable he feels in the Paris offense as he went 17-of-30 for 231 yards and two scores through the air, and also led the Musketeers on the ground with 18 carries for 133 yards and another score in a losing effort against Vienna.
DOWNS
Jan Leuker (Cologne Centurions)
The Centurions homegrown QB was on a hiding to nothing, even against the erratic Berlin Thunder, and was pulled from the fire at half-time, having contributed just 40 yards of total offense and a pick-six. The only saving grace for the German was that import QB Keegan McCormick fared little better.
Cologne Centurions & Fehérvár Enthroners
With four weeks of games remaining in the 2025 season, both the Centurions and Enthroners have been eliminated from playoff contention. For Cologne, the outcome is almost inevitable given their putrid results, but Fehérvár might rightfully feel hard done by as they have at least put up a fight in the majority of outings. Expect Helvetic, despite similarly battling most weeks, to be imminently added to this list.
Rhein Fire fans
Despite travelling en masse to Copenhagen to watch their team’s first-ever encounter with the Nordic Storm, and hoping to be the ones to end the upstarts’ unbeaten run, the ‘Fire Brigade’ (if you’re not already using this, Fire fans, feel free to adopt it!) returned empty-handed after the cruellest defeat of all. At least there is a chance for revenge before the regular season is out but, currently 4-4, Rhein will need to win a few between now and then to give the game any meaning.
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SEEN AND HEARD
- “Saturday was a big step in the right direction. Our special teams did a much better job of turning the game in our favour — and with very few mistakes. On defense, our guys fought harder than ever this season. They played with exactly the tireless intensity I wanted to see all year — and forced three turnovers from the opposition. On offense, we finally found some rhythm and moved the ball well on most drives — although there were still too many turnovers.”
Helvetic Mercenaries HC Joshua Fitzgerald
- “As a coach, I’m particularly pleased to see this stability and steady development in a group of players who aren’t really competing for a title anymore. This shows me the true character of a champion: Our guys want it – and they believe in what we’re building together. Now we just need to unpack a few boxes.”
Helvetic Mercenaries HC Joshua Fitzgerald
- “The game in Prague was incredibly demanding. Even though we imposed our rhythm early, our own mistakes led to a tense finish. We need to clean those up as we prepare for next week’s matchup against the Vienna Vikings. A win is always great, but following the 24-hour rule, our focus now shifts fully to the next challenge.”
Panthers Wrocław S Szymon Romanowski - “We took the lead quickly in the first quarter. Even though the tempo slowed later, we did a great job stopping their offense and went into half-time ahead. The third quarter didn’t go our way, but we responded mentally, handled the pressure, and sealed the win in the fourth quarter.”
Panthers Wrocław WR Adrian Gródecki
- “It was a very close game today with a lot of plays. We had a few very short drives on offense and a few drives where we were actually on the field too long on defense. That was mainly due to Frankfurt’s quarterback, who played really well. What he did with his feet and his accuracy with the ball were very impressive. We’re still very happy with today’s game; we performed well today. Many of our players showed what they’re capable of. That’s important because we have a very important game ahead of us next week against the Paris Musketeers .”
Stuttgart Surge HC Jordan Neuman
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