WR Talib Wise had some great games at Vienna (Photo: Schellhorn)
In week 10 of the 2013 Austrian Football League (AFL) season the SWARCO Raiders, sister-team of the Oakland Raiders, face their last road test of the regular season as they travel to Vienna. On Sunday, June 23 they play at the Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna. Kickoff at Stadium Hohe Warte is at 6:00 a.m. PT (3:00 p.m. CET).
"The game at Vienna will be the second big matchup within a few days", said SWARCO Raiders head coach Shuan Fatah. "We don't have any time to get a breather. We still have the chance to take over first place from the Vikings. It's a small chance, but we'll try everything to accomplish it".
The Vikings are the only unbeaten team in the AFL as they have won all eight games. They also won at Tivoli Stadium, beating the SWARCO Raiders 48-13 in week 4. Vienna has the league's best scoring offense and best defense. They also forced the most turnovers in the AFL.
But much has changed on the side of the Tyroleans since that loss in April. In fact it was the last time the SWARCO Raiders have lost a game. They enter Sunday's contest with a 7-1 record. And with a big win at Vienna they might even jump the Vikings in the standings.
On Sunday the teams meet for the 32nd time in an AFL or EFL (European Football League) game. The Vikings came out on top 22 times. But despite the overall record the SWARCO Raiders were able to win six of the last 13 encounters with Vienna.
SWARCO Raiders QB Kyle Callahan completed 131 of 204 passes for 1,872 yards with 23 touchdowns and 4 interceptions an. He also had 39 rushes for 148 yards and 4 scores. RB Andreas Hofbauer leads the Tyroleans with 83 carries for 555 yards and 5 touchdowns. RB Lukas Miribung gained 228 yards on 45 rushes with one touchdown. RB/DB Jaycen Taylor had 15 runs for 94 yards und a touchdown. He also caught 10 passes for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns.
WR Damaso Tarneller is the team's leading receiver with 37 catches for 611 yards and 4 touchdowns. WR Julian Ebner caught 24 balls for 414 yards and 9 touchdowns. WR/K Clemens Erlsbacher had 25 receptions for 307 yards and 2 touchdowns. WR Talib Wise caught 18 balls for 215 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also had 10 rushes for 45 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Erlsbacher also excels on special teams. He converted 34 of 35 extra points and kicked 5 field goals (18, 33, 42, 43, 43 yards). He also had 18 punts for an average of 37.5 yards per punt with 6 punts downed inside the opposing 20. And 27 of his 51 kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. On top of that Erlsbacher had 5 kickoff returns for 90 yards. Wise had 3 kickoff returns for 54 yards and 3 punt returns for 87 yards. DB Enrico Martini returned 9 kickoffs for 272 yards. Taylor had 2 punt return touchdowns (65 yards, 78 yards).
The SWARCO Raiders defense is led by LB Florian Hueter and his 40.5 tackles (27 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. LB Chrisoph Schilcher had 34.5 tackles (24 solo) and a tackle for loss. He's followed by LB Fabian Seeber, who had 31.5 tackles (25 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and a fumble recovery.
DE Philipp Margreiter had 19 tackles (17 solo). He also leads the AFL with 13.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. Margreiter also forced 2 fumbles, caught an interception and blocked a punt. DB Markus Krause had 18 tackles (11 solo). Martini had 17.5 tackles (12 solo). DL Korbinian Hoffmann had 4 sacks and 5 tackles for loss. DL Maximilian Pichler had 2 sacks. LB Simon Hoser intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown. Krause and Taylor also caught 2 interceptions each. DB Patrick Pilger and Martini each recovered a fumble.
Vienna puts ist game in the hand of QB Christoph Gross. Thus far he completed 122 of 187 passes for 1,879 yards with 22 touchdowns and 3 interceptions an. RB Jesse Lewis had 75 carries for 689 yards and 9 touchdowns. RB Islaam Amadu had 66 rushes for 241 yards and 7 touchdowns.
WR Michael Zweifel has caught 30 balls for 542 yards and 9 touchdowns. WR Laurinho Walch hauled in 25 passes for 354 yards and 4 touchdowns. WR Stefan Holzinger had 23 catches for 546 yards and 6 touchdowns.
The Vikings defense is led by LB Dustin Illetschko and his 31 tackles (24 solo), 6 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. LB Paul Werner had 22.5 tackles (18 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. LB Marco Aigner had 21.5 tackles (15 solo) and 3 tackles for loss. LB Simon Blach had 21 tackles (18 solo) and 12 tackles for loss including 3 sacks. LB Philip Stojaspal had 6 sacks and DL Alexander Taheri had 4.5 sacks. DB Benjamin Bubik leads the league with 5 interceptions.
