Danish semifinals offer two thrilling matchups

The Danish National League has reached the semifinal stage and the biggest surprise is seeing the defending champion Triangle Razorbacks heading into the weekend as the lowest seed.

The Copenhagen Towers finished the shortened regular season undefeated with a 4-0 record. Behind them in second are the Søllerød Gold Diggers (3-1) followed by the AaB 89ers (2-2) and the Razorbacks who finished 1-3.

This weekend’s matchups feature the #1 seeded Towers facing the #4 Razorbacks in a rematch of the 2019 title game, with the #2 Gold Diggers and #3 89ers squaring off in the other game.

Due to the sudden clampdown on COVID-19 restrictions in Denmark’s capital city of Copenhagen, the semifinal game between the Towers and Triangle Razorbacks will not be held in Copenhagen but instead in Vejle, Denmark, hometown of the Razorbacks.

Saturday, September 19, Søllerød Gold Diggers v. Aalborg 89ers (This game will not be livestreamed)

The Gold Diggers opened the 2020 season by whipping Aalborg 62-12 but this is a far different 89ers team they face just a few weeks later.

After losing to Søllerød  the 89ers downed Aarhus 56-12 and then defeated the Razorbacks 34-26. They were soundly beaten by Copenhagen though 64-28 to finish the regular season.

In the case of Søllerød, after the opening day win, they dropped a 29-26 decision to the Towers but then overwhelmed the Aarhus Tigers 56-0 and downed the Razorbacks 40-26.

Gold Diggers quarterback Tanner Gueller suffered a leg injury early in the second half of their final game of the season and running back Rasmus Carøe stepped in to orchestrate the final two touchdowns for the win. Carøe is expected to also see duty at quarterback at times with backup Andreas Willumsen getting the nod as the starter.  With wide receiver Thomas Ashworth playing well and running back Christian Vahl looking sharp in practice, some observers believe that without their starting quarterback for at least one game, Søllerød could pull this one off.

The 89ers went into the last game of the season against Copenhagen with high hopes. Quarterback Alexander Kronborg had been looking better and better as the season wore on but in that game it wasn’t easy against a Towers defense that kept constant pressure on him. Still with running back Breon Allen in the backfield, anything can happen.  Also, with receivers like Frederik Myrup Nielsen who has spent two seasons in the German Football League, along with Rashad Green and Kasper Kaufmann, AaB poses a threat.

This one could go either way.

Saturday, September 19, Copenhagen Towers v. Triangle Razorbacks (Watch this game on AFI.tv)

The Towers roll into this game filled with confidence winning all four of their regular season games. They downed the Razorbacks 14-7 in the only meeting between the two teams in a game in which quarterback Calvin Stitt came into his own. He  has improved with each game and silenced any doubters with his superb play when it counted. In the backfield running backs Anton Witmeur and  Junior Konate who also plays wide receiver, provide a formidable ground game combined with Stitt.  Wide receiver MJ Williams, Philip Thue Nielsen and Jakob Green will put pressure on the Razorbacks secondary. Defensively, Copenhagen has only allowed 75 points in four games so expect the same type of pressure.

The Razorbacks are led by veteran quarterback Reed Gottula and the always-dangerous Niko Lester who plays, receiver, returner and defensive back. Lester can turn a game around all on his own and in the season finale against the Gold Diggers he almost did it with an 80 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Running back Adrian Jimenez has been one of the stories of the season and wide receiver Alesandro Mella also a key component of the Triangle offense.

This game as well could go either way but the edge goes to Copenhagen based on their momentum.

 

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