LIVESTREAM: Germany – Frankfurt Universe @Allgäu Comets, July 8, 3p (9a EST)

AFI | Allgau Comets | 07/08/2018

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The 5-1 Frankfurt Universe, Europe #5, travel to Kempten, Germany Sunday July 8 to take on the 5-3 Allgäu Comets in the last round of play in the German Football League before a midseason break.

This is the first meeting between these two teams this year and the first time Frankfurt head coach Brain Caler will face his former team. Caler spent nine years with the Comets, guiding them from the lowest depths of football in the regional leagues to the German Bowl semifinals in 2015. After finishing out of the playoffs in 2017, he was let go and replaced by Stan Bedwell.

Needless to say, players on both teams are well aware of the situation.

The Universe enter the game with one of the stingiest defenses in the league giving up just over 10 points a game while scoring 32.2. Allgäu‘s offense, the “Flying Circus” has slowed down somewhat in the last three games after sparking headlines early on in the season. They are scoring at a rate of 34.2 points a game but allowing 29. Nevertheless, the Comets lead the league in overall yardage per game with almost 430 yards and a league-leading 428.4 in the air. They are dead last in rushing offense.

Allgäu is facing the number one defense against the pass. The Universe have been allowing opponents just 153 passing yards every game.

Comets quarterback Justin Sottilare leads the GFL in passing yardage with 3,323 and passing touchdowns with 33. He has completed 287 of 453 passes but has also thrown 16 interceptions. Wide receiver Jordan Paul is the second leading receiver in the GFL with 926 yards in eight games. Martin Emos is fourth with 764, Jonatan Gihl is fifth with 698 and Féli Manoka is the sixth leading receiver with his 656.

With a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Steve Cluley, Frankfurt signed Andrew Ellfers from Azousa Pacific University and in his first outing against the Ingolstadt Dukes, he performed impressively, completing 26 of 45 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns. He too has an outstanding corps of receivers to throw to including David Giron (529 yds), Tim Thomas (522) and George Robinson (153). With the injury to Joe Bergeron, running back Andreas Betza has picked up the slack. He is the ninth leading rusher with his 347 yards.

Allgäu has lost two of their four home games this year including an inexplicable loss to the Munich Cowboys who picked up their first win of the year against the Comets in that game. Needless to say, Bedwell does not want his charges to disappoint the home fans again right before the break. Similarly, Frankfurt would like to head into a four week break with another win under their belts.