RB Florian Grein scored three touchdowns in the 28-0 win over the Dragons. Photo by Schellhorn.
In week 6 of the 2011 Austrian Football League (AFL) season the SWARCO Raiders, marketing teammate of The Oakland Raiders, celebrated a 28-0 (0-0; 21-0; 7-0; 0-0) victory over the Danube Dragons. It was the revenge for the loss in an Austrian Bowl match-up last season.
"The team gave it their best on the field today," said SWARCO Raiders head coach Shuan Fatah. "They wanted their revenge so bad and they also wanted to make people forget about the loss to Vienna two weeks ago. Now it's important to keep improving from week to week."
RB Florian Grein was the game's MVP, gaining 79 yards on 14 rushing attempts and scoring three touchdowns. QB Kyle Callahan completed 11 of 14 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown. WR Jakob Dieplinger caught two passes for 92 yards and a score. WR Andreas Pröller caught two balls for 46 yards.
S John Clements caught his third interception of the season and also recovered a fumble. The SWARCO Raiders defense held Dragons backup QB Jimmy Russell to 58 passing yards. The Dragons dangerous WR Sean Fullerton was held to one catch.
After the SWARCO Raiders kickoff the Dragons, who had to play without injured QB Thomas Haider, marched to the Tyroleans 24-yard line. But a 41-yard field goal went wide left. The home site took over, but had to punt on their opening possession.
After the Dragons were forced to punt after three plays, the SWARCO Raiders started their next drive at midfield. On first down Callahan pitched the ball to WR Talib Wise, who ran to the Dragons 27. After a run by Grein a penalty gave the Tyroleans a first down at the 11. Grein rushed for 10 yards on the next play and ran into the endzone from 1 yard out on the next play. K Christian Kellner added the extra point and the SWARCO Raiders were up 7-0 with 11:02 left in the second.
The defense then forced the Dragons to punt again. After a short return by Wise the SWARCO Raiders offense started at their own 38. On the very first play Callahan went deep and found Dieplinger for a 57-yard touchdown pass. The PAT gave the Tyroleans a 14-0 lead with 8:13 left in the second quarter.
The Dragons started their next drive at their own 20. But the drive ended, when Clements intercepted a tipped pass from Russell and returned the ball to the Dragons 27. Grein opened the ensuing drive with a 6-yard run, then broke loose for a 21-yard touchdown run. After the PAT the SWARCO Raiders lead 21-0 with 6:31 left in the second.
An incomplete pass on a fourth down at the SWARCO Raiders 24 ended the Dragons next possession. An 8-yard run by Grein and a 9-yard run by Wise moved the chains. Then Callahan found Pröller at the Dragons 27 for 35 yards. A penalty negated a 27-yard touchdown pass to Pröller and Kellner's 49-yard field goal attempt on the first half's very last play went just wide left.
After a SWARCO Raiders punt on the opening drive of the second half, the Dragons moved the ball to the Tyroleans 16, before a broken play on fourth down gave the SWARCO Raiders the ball back. On the second play from scrimmage Callahan found Wise at the Tyroleans 36. And after a 9-yard pass to WR Pascal Maier, Callahan hit Pröller at the Dragons 37. On the next play Callahan threw deep to Dieplinger again, who made an acrobatic catch at the 2-yard line. A penalty cost the Tyroleans 5 yards, but a couple of plays later Grein rumbled into the endzone from 3 yards out. Kellner added the extra point to give the SWARCO Raiders a 28-0 lead with 2:12 left in the third.
Starting at their own 20, the Dragons were able to move the ball again. Russell found Fullerton for a first down, then the quarterback rushed to the Tyroleans 46. On the next play DT Benedikt Brugnarasacked Russell, but the Dragons marched on thanks to two successful fourth down conversions. Standing at the Tyroleans 11 though, the drive's third fourth down play ended with an incomplete pass.
Starting at their own 11 Callahan threw twice to WR Julian Ebner. A 10-yard run by RB Andreas Hofbauer and Callahan's 15-yard rush moved the ball to midfield. Hofbauer then lead his team to the Dragons 22, before fumbling the ball. But the Dragons gave the ball right back, with Clements recovering the fumble at the opposing 37. With the second string offense now in, the SWARCO Raiders lost the ball yet again when a pass attempt resulted in a fumble at the Tyroleans 33. The Dragons then moved the ball to the SWARCO Raiders 6-yard line, but a sack by LB Christoph Schilcher ended all hopes for a last-second touchdown.
Next Saturday the SWARCO Raiders host French champion Spartiates Amiens in the Eurobowl quarterfinals. Kickoff is at 11 a.m. PT (8 p.m. CET).
