THIS GIVEN SUNDAY — EFA WK4: MUNICH TOO STRONG FOR PARIS
Even a week ago, the Munich Ravens and Paris Musketeers were being discussed as early favourites for the inaugural European Football Alliance championship. By Sunday evening at Stade Bauer, however, only one of those claims had grown stronger.
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Munich Ravens 41 @ 7 Paris Musketeers
The meeting between two unbeaten sides at Stade Bauer was expected to provide the clearest indication yet of the EFA pecking order, as the Munich Ravens emphatically answered the question of who might be the best in the entire league.
What appeared destined, pre-game at least, to become a classic heavyweight contest instead evolved into a showcase of the Ravens’ depth, opportunism and defensive excellence as they handed Paris their first defeat of the season.
The home side made a stronger start than each of Munich’s previous opponents simply by preventing return specialist Bijon Harris from opening the scoring with his first touch of the ball but, nevertheless, Ravens quarterback Russell Tabor struck first, finding Malik Stanley Jr for a 21-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. The Musketeers responded in spectacular fashion, however, restricting the potent Munich offense and then blocking the ensuing punt so close to the endzone that it was returned for a touchdown.
The moment brought Stade Bauer to life and, for much of the first half, both defenses traded blows in a contest befitting two title contenders. Daniel Schweiger’s field goal shortly before half-time gave Munich a narrow 10-7 advantage, but the second half belonged entirely to the visitors.
A strip sack of Zach Edwards created early momentum before Justus Seelig powered the Ravens into scoring position and Tabor connected again with Stanley. Moments later, Tony Anderson stripped Hassane Dosso and Alexander Raich recovered the loose ball, setting up Stanley’s third touchdown of the afternoon before a successful two-point conversion stretched the advantage to 25-7.
From there, Munich’s defense slammed the door shut. Christoph Nitzlnader intercepted Edwards twice, Fabian Rolfes added a fourth-quarter touchdown and Justin Rodney scored his fifth rushing touchdown of the campaign before Schweiger completed the scoring. The 41-7 final score perhaps flattered the Ravens slightly given the competitive nature of the first half, but there was no doubting the quality and efficiency of the German side, who improved to 3-0 and tightened their grip on top spot. Paris, meanwhile, drop to 2-1 but remain firmly in the playoff picture.
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Frankfurt Galaxy 21 @ 5 Raiders Tirol
Frankfurt Galaxy finally have a win to show for a season that had promised far more than an 0-2 record suggested after a disciplined and opportunistic performance at Tivoli Stadium brought a deserved victory over the still winless Raiders Tirol.
The home side initially appeared poised to end their own losing streak. Jan Mayerhofer forced a fumble from Gerald Ameln on Frankfurt’s opening drive and Precious Ogbevoen recovered, allowing Steven Krajewski to quickly move the Raiders into field goal range with a 54-yard completion to Aaron Jackson. Kicker Jonata Loria duly opened the scoring, only for Frankfurt to answer through Ryan Rimmler as points remained difficult to find in an increasingly physical encounter.
Momentum shifted decisively in the second quarter. Following a special teams mistake by Tirol, Galaxy QB Ethan Garbers rushed for a touchdown and, moments before half-time, Frankfurt produced one of the most inventive plays of the season to extend their lead. After Garbers and WR Brevin Easton combined on a 53-yard gain, wide receiver Paul Kavadia Lenhardt took the next snap and found his quarterback in the end zone to make the score 16-3.
A safety brought Tirol slightly closer, but Frankfurt’s defense dominated after the interval. Rabbi Junior intercepted Krajewski before Jaylen Clay added another takeaway and Chris Mulumba and Jahn Jesus Lara Perez consistently disrupted the Raiders’ attack. Rimmler added another field goal to make it 19-5 before a late safety for the visitors confirmed the final margin.
For Tirol, frustration continues to mount as the offense again failed to reward a strong defensive effort. At 0-3, pressure is beginning to build in Innsbruck as the Raiders start to drift away from the four playoff positions.
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Nordic Storm 40 @ 14 Prague Lions
Heading into the final game of the weekend, the Nordic Storm knew that they need a win in Czechia if they were to keep in step with Munich at the top of the table, and duly made the hometown Lions suffer as a result.
While Prague were frequently masters of their own downfall through errors and turnovers, the Storm made life difficult throughout the opening three quarters. Capitalising on any Lions mistake, as well as carving some typically well-crafted scores of their own, the Scandinavian visitors raced into a 20-point first quarter lead, and were up 33-0 at the interval as QB Jadrian Clark — wearing DE Emil Hovde’s #13 jersey instead of his own #3 — again exploited holes in the defense with touchdown tosses to Brendan Beaulieu and Roberto Miranda. Running back Glen Toonga chipped in with a score of his own, with the defense also getting in on the action as Nordic put the game out of reach by the half.
Another Beaulieu touchdown early in the third saw the Storm reach 40 points against the hapless Lions for a second time (sandwiching the mere 39 racked up against Tirol in Week 2), and led to the starters being rested for the final period. This gave Prague a break from the pummelling, and the Bohemians Prague stadium responded vocally when CB Ken Hike Jr picked off back-up QB Max Lambert and returned the ball fully 60 yards to the house.
When embattled QB Jaylon Henderson scampered in behind a solid lead block minutes later, the Lions would have been musing what might have been had the breakthroughs come earlier. Instead, they head into Week 5 and another unenviable opponent, sharing an unwanted 0-3 record with Tirol.
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While they don’t meet until Week 7, Nordic Storm and Munich Ravens remain unbeaten and atop the EFA standings. Another full slate in Week 5 sees the German side hosting Prague, while Nordic do likewise to a rejuvenated Galaxy, no doubt remembering them as the side that ended their fairytale unbeaten start to 2025. The opening game of the weekend, and only Saturday fixture, has the Raiders travelling to Paris hoping to kick the Musketeers when they’re down.