Germany’s New Yorker Lions heading to 5th straight semifinal
The Braunschweig New Yorker Lions spotted the Ingolstadt Dukes a six point lead and then took control rolling to a 47-6 win in the German Football League quarterfinals to qualify for the semifinal round for the fifth straight year.
The last time the Lions missed the playoffs was 2012, and coincidentally Troy Tomlin took over as head coach of the team in 2013 bringing with him defensive coordinator Dave Likins.
Since then the duo has instilled a winning atmosphere, capturing four consecutive German titles.
The Lions rolled up 412 yards of offense while holding Ingolstadt to 221. Casey Therriault threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns while running back David McCants rushed for 142 yards and another touchdown. Nathaniel Morris led all receivers with 119 yards in receiving yardage and a touchdown while Justus Holtz had 67 yards in receptions and a touchdown and Christian Bollmann added another touchdown. Tobias Goebel kicked two field goals and Christian Petersen scored a touchdown on an interception return.
Photo: Braunschweig New Yorker Lions
Ingolstadt quarterback Rick Webster was harassed all game long and sacked four times completing only 10 of 36 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown. He was also picked off once. The Dukes could only muster a total of 55 yards rushing against the powerful Braunschweig front seven.
Nevertheless, Webster marched his team smartly down the field on the first possession throwing a touchdown pass to Richard Samual, but then the Lions grabbed the momentum. Therriault threw two touchdown passes, McCants ran for a 50 yard touchdown and defensive back Christian Petersen returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown to give Braunschweig a 27-6 halftime lead.
The onslaught continued in the second half with Ingolstadt unable to get out of their own end of the field in four possessions while the Lions scored two more touchdowns (Bollmann, Johnson) and Goebel kicked two field goals.
The Lions move on to the semifinals to face the Frankfurt Universe Saturday. Frankfurt defeated the Dresden Monarchs to reach the semis. Braunschweig has beaten the Universe once already this season in the Eurobowl final.
