Germany: Hildesheim Invaders stun Potsdam Royals for 2nd win of season

The 2-6 Hildesheim Invaders earned their second win of the season by shocking the high-flying Potsdam Royals (4-5) 14-0  in Potsdam in German Football League North action this past weekend.

With the stunning victory, Hildesheim avenged an earlier 56-0 blowout loss at the hands of Potsdam.

New quarterback Tyler Johnson, in his first game with the Invaders completed 16 of 26 passes for 119 yards in three quarters of play while rushing for one touchdown. Newly-signed running back Jaleel Awini (formerly with the Frankfurt Universe in 2017) rushed  for 51 yards and a touchdown while catching five passes for 51 yards.

Potsdam entered the game with the fourth leading offense in Germany averaging 406 yards a game. The Invaders held them to 129 yards while keeping Royals quarterback Austin Gahafer, the third leading passer in the league going into the game, to 79 yards passing (!). Tyvis Smith rushed for 37 yards, well off his season average of 87 yards a game.

After a scoreless first half which saw the Invaders defense surprise Potsdam, holding them to a total of four first downs, Hildesheim struck first in the third quarter.  Johnson engineered a nine-play, 59 yard drive, finishing it with a two yard touchdown run giving the Invaders a 7-0 lead. This was only the second time Hildesheim has taken the lead in a game all year.

With the Royals unable to reach the Hildesheim red zone, midway through the fourth quarter Johnson marched the Invaders down to the Potsdam 18 yard line. Awini found a seam and raced into the end zone to increase the lead to 14-0.

The Hildesheim defense did the rest, neutralizing the powerful Potsdam offense and helping the Invaders earn a crucial victory going into the four-week break.