The SWARCO RAIDERS defense will have their hands full (Photo: Schellhorn)
The SWARCO RAIDERS, sister-team of The Oakland Raiders, play against the Danube Dragons in the Austrian Football League (AFL) on Sunday, May 24. Kickoff at Gernot Langes Stadium in Wattens is at 6:00 a.m. PT (3:00 p.m. CET).
The Tyroleans want to settle the score with the Dragons, who they lost to in their second game of the season. It was the first loss against the Dragons since 2010. It was also the last game the SWARCO RAIDERS have lost in the AFL this season as they have won four straight.
"We want to keep a clean slate here at Wattens", said SWARCO RAIDERS head coach Shuan Fatah. "The Dragon are a team we cannot take lightly. They have shown us how good they are earlier in the season".
The Dragons sit in fourth place in the AFL standings with a 2-3 record. They need to win one more game to secure a spot in the playoffs.
Last weekend the team from Vienna lost 56-38 at home to the Prague Black Panthers. It was their third loss in four games. They beat the Giants in week 6 (35-14), but lost in Prague (35-34) and to the Vikings (47-10). The Dragons opened their season with the beforementioned 42-23 victory over the SWARCO RAIDERS.
These SWARCO RAIDERS have a 4-2 record in the AFL. They lost their first two matchups of the season and are unbeaten since. First they beat Graz (51-14) and Vienna (30-17) at Wattens. Then they won two straight road games at Prague (31-22) and Graz (50-34).
The Tyroleans have never lost a game in Wattens. Gernot Langes Stadium has become their second home where they post a 7-0 record. But they have never played the Dragons there.
Out of the 19 matchups between these two teams the SWARCO RAIDERS have won 16. The loss in week 2 of this season came after a nine game winning streak.
PLAYERS2WATCH:
#84 Clemens Erlsbacher (WR, SWARCO RAIDERS Tirol): After coming back from a chest injury Clemens Erlsbacher recorded 9 catches for 237 yards and 3 touchdowns at Graz last weekend. He also kicked 4 PATs and a field goal. Erlsbacher was named the AFL's player of the week.
#12 Sean Shelton (QB, SWARCO RAIDERS Tirol): Due to the BATTLE4TIROL matchup against Stuttgart Sean Shelton was not active in the game at the Dragons. In three AFL contests he completed 67 of 118 passes for 866 yards with 7 touchdowns and one interception. He also had 28 rushes for 113 yards and a score.
#20 Patrick Pilger & #30 Alexander Achammer (DBs, SWARCO RAIDERS Tirol): The two defensive backs Alexander Achammer (5) and Patrick Pilger (4) have combined for 9 interceptions in the AFL this year. These two alone have caught as many picks as the Dragons, Black Panthers and Giants combined. They also lead their team in tackles. Pilger has 25 tackles (20 solo), followed by Achammer with 22.5 stops (19 solo).
