LIVE STREAM: Denmark semifinal – Copenhagen Towers meet Amager Demons in David & Goliath matchup
The Copenhagen Towers look to advance to Denmark’s championship game – the Mermaid Bowl – for the eighth time in their history but they will have to get past the feisty Amager Demons Saturday in the Danish semifinals at Gentofte Sports Park in Copenhagen.
The Towers who topped the Danish league in the regular season with a 9-1 record, are facing an Amager Demons team that barely scraped into the playoffs, winning a nail biter in the wild card round to qualify.
Talk about a David & Goliath story. Which makes the Demons all the more dangerous.
Nevertheless, most experts are picking the Towers who won the title in 2013 and 2014. Copenhagen is playing in its sixth straight semifinals and enters the game with the highest scoring offense in Denmark this year and the stingiest defense.
Copenhagen is led by national team quarterback Kasper Skyum who is very mobile and an accurate downfield passer. He will give the Demons fits if they do not get to him early.
Demons RB Lars Hyrsting, Towers RB Anton Witmeur Photo: Mikkel Bo Rasmussen-1st Down Photo
Amager has struggled this year but improved as the season progressed. Despite losing 50-12 to the Towers early in the year, the Demons are undaunted. They boast the leading running back in Denmark in Lars Hyrsting who gained 1,337 yards, an average of 7.6 yards per run, and scored 14 touchdowns.
Copenhagen’s defense led by linebacker Philip Hargett will have to take control of the lien of scrimmage to shut down Hyrsting. Amager’s passing game, while not explosive can be dangerous and quarterback Mads Edvardsen will need to take what the Towers defense gives him and avoid making mistakes. His main targets are Hyrsting’s brother Mads and receiver Frederik Normann.
Demons head coach John Stevenson was proud of his team in speaking with Nationalligaen.dk:
“I have always said that we would not be judged on individual matches during the season, but on how we finished the season. Reaching the semi-finals is a great feeling and I am so happy for everyone involved in the Demons who will have the chance to experience playing in such a huge game.”
Towers head coach Peter Herbild has a healthy respect for the Demons:
“They may have surprised some people but anyone who makes it this far has a quality team. And the Hyrsting brothers are always a handful to deal with.”
The Towers run game can pose problems for Amager. Running back Anton Witmeur is a speedy running back. Meanwhile, on defense, safety Magnus Bitsch leads a tough secondary and is considered to be the premier safety in the league. Edvardsen will have to be aware of him.
Defensively the Demons will have their work cut out for them. Michael “Boomer” Kristiansen and the rest of Demons defense will have to get pressure on Towers quarterback Kasper Skyum. If they don’t it could be a long day for Amager’s secondary.
Demons offensive line coach Dennis Svensson is taking a positive attitude:
“This will be a great game. We have nothing to lose. This is definitely a David and Goliath type situation.”
Last four games between these two teams:
June 12, 2016 – Copenhagen Towers – Amager Demons – 50-12
August 9, 2015 – Copenhagen Towers – Amager Demons – 59-0
August 9, 2014 – Amager Demons – Copenhagen Towers – 6-31
April 11, 2014 – Copenhagen Towers – Amager Demons – 50-0
Kickoff: Saturday, September 24 4 PM CET (10 AM EDT)
Link to Livestream from Zibra Digital Media Group.
