The Carlstad Crusaders, Europe #8, scored 37 first half points en route to a 56-17 win over the Oslo Vikings in Oslo, Norway in Northern European Football League play.
In their first game of the 2018 NEFL season, Carlstad set the tone early, scoring on their first drive and never letting up.
Quarterback Philip Juhlin completed 13 of 20 passes for 308 yards and threw five touchdown passes with wide receiver Robin Juhlin hauling in seven passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns. Jacob Dahre caught three passes for 69 yards and a touchdown while Julius Rucker also caught a touchdown pass. Running back Christian Forsman added a touchdown while linebacker Christian Kuylenstjerna and defensive back Elias Rosenkvist scored on interceptions.
Oslo quarterback Robert Mehmet Sezer threw for 143 yards in a game in which he was constantly harassed by a relentless Carlstad front seven. Running back Vegard Tysse scored the lone touchdown for the Vikings and also kicked a 40 yard field goal.
Carlstad DB Elias Rosenkvist scores on a pick six
After Carlstad scored on their first two possessions, the shell-shocked Vikings seemed to calm down as Sezer marched them to the Crusaders 23 yard line and Tysse kicked a field goal to close the gap to 13-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Carlstad struck again early in the second quarter with Robin Juhlin scoring one of this three touchdowns to increase the lead to 21-3.
Again, Sezer and the Oslo offense responded with a 63 yard drive, including a 45 yard gain by Eric Ford. Tysse capped it scoring from the one yard line and the Vikings seemed to be back in the ball game, trailing 21-10.
That was as close as they came though as Juhlin found Juhlin and Rucker for two more touchdowns giving the Crusaders a 35-10 at halftime.
Carlstad’s defense picked off three Sezer passes in the second half, two for touchdowns while Forsman added another touchdown for the Crusaders.
As both teams substituted liberally in the fourth quarter, and the score 56-10 for Carlstad, Vikings backup quarterback Henrik Kværner Helliesen threw a late touchdown pass to André Wang Engedahl.