Potsdam Royals ascend to true royalty in three-peat for the ages

By John Mahnen

The Potsdam Royals captured their third straight German Football League title in unforgettable fashion, defeating the Dresden Monarchs 33-23 in the Kampf um die deutsche Glasschale at Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion. Before kickoff, the near-capacity crowd of some 20,000 was treated to a fly-by and stirring rendition of the national anthem by Carolin Niemczyk that made it clear this would be more than just a football game. 

The television production on DF1 lived up to the occasion, with Roman Motzkus and Carsten Spengemann delivering insightful and energetic commentary that guided viewers through one of the most entertaining German Bowls in years. From the fireworks to the intensity on the field, this was an event that showcased that the GFL is still very much worthy of our attention. 

The defending champions from Potsdam entered as slight favorites, but the Monarchs—playing in their home city—were determined to reclaim the title they last won in 2021. The tension was palpable from the opening kickoff. 

Dresden’s first drive was promising until star receiver Tyler Hudson lost the football after a hard tackle from the Potsdam secondary. Ronaldo Tomasello pounced on the loose ball, giving the Royals excellent field position. Just a few plays later, quarterback Xeaiver Bullock found Emanuel Bakare on a short screen pass, and the speedy receiver did the rest—breaking tackles and racing 74 yards down the sideline for the opening touchdown. True to the team’s aggressive identity, head coach Michael Vogt went for two, and Nathanael Stewart hauled in the conversion to give Potsdam an early 8-0 lead. 

Dresden refused to be rattled. After both defenses traded stops, the Monarchs finally found their rhythm. Quarterback Justin Miller worked the short passing game before setting up a crucial red-zone play. On a free play caused by an offside penalty against Potsdam, Miller rolled right and delivered a strike to Aaron Perez for the touchdown. Perez then caught the two-point conversion as well, tying the score at 8-8 with 2:45 left in the first quarter. 

Momentum briefly shifted to the Monarchs when a tip drill interception gave them the ball deep in Potsdam territory, but the Royals’ defense held firm. The second quarter opened with the champions showing their trademark creativity. Facing fourth down near midfield, Vogt called for a fake punt, and backup Max Menache completed a 32-yard pass that stunned the Dresden crowd and kept the drive alive. Moments later, Heiko Bals powered in for the touchdown, and Alex Labella secured the two-point conversion to make it 16-8 for the Royals with 8:46 remaining in the half. 

It looked as though Potsdam might pull away, but the Monarchs answered again. Miller remained poised, mixing swing passes to Tofunmi Lala with timely scrambles, while tight end Rudi Frey began to exploit space behind the linebackers. A perfectly executed rollout led to a short touchdown pass to Frey, followed by another pinpoint throw to Hudson for the two-point conversion. With just over five minutes left in the second quarter, the teams were deadlocked at 16-16. 

Both sides traded possessions in a sequence filled with drama—penalties, near interceptions, and big hits—until Dresden got the ball back with just over a minute to play. What followed was one of the most memorable plays in German Bowl history. With the clock running down and the crowd expecting a clock-stopping spike, Miller faked the motion, looked up, and found Tyler Hudson streaking wide open down the right sideline. The fake spike caught Potsdam completely off guard, and Hudson walked into the end zone untouched. Kicker Florian Finke added the extra point to send Dresden into halftime leading 23-16. 

During the break, the halftime show by Glasperlenspiel kept the energy high, while both teams regrouped for what promised to be an intense second half. Vogt told DF1 that his message to his players was simple: stay calm, trust the system, and play Royals football. 

The champions responded. Early in the fourth quarter, Bullock found Emanuel Bakare again—this time on a deflected pass that bounced off another receiver’s hands before landing in Bakare’s arms. He sprinted into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game, and Bals’ extra point tied the score at 23-23. Potsdam’s sideline erupted, sensing the momentum had shifted. 

Moments later, Bullock engineered another long drive. Facing fourth and twelve from the Dresden 33-yard line, Vogt chose to keep the offense on the field. Bullock stepped up in the pocket and fired a perfect strike to Milan Spiller, who caught the ball in stride and ran it in for the go-ahead touchdown. Bals converted again to make it 30-23 with just over four minutes remaining. 

Dresden still had one last chance, but the Royals defense, led by Ülar Tiitma and Joshua Wünsch, tightened up. Tiitma intercepted a desperate pass by Miller with under three minutes to go, and Potsdam methodically worked the clock before Bals added a 37-yard field goal to seal the 33-23 win. 

Bullock was named the game’s MVP after completing 20 of 27 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 55 more. Bakare finished with six receptions for 115 yards and two scores, and Spiller added five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. Bals contributed both on the ground and as kicker, while Tomasello’s early fumble recovery set the tone defensively. 

For Dresden, Miller matched Bullock’s composure with 224 yards and two touchdowns on 20 completions. Hudson, despite the early fumble, was electric in the passing game and on returns, finishing with 102 yards and a score. Frey and Perez added touchdowns as well, keeping the Monarchs in contention until the final minutes. 

As fireworks lit up the night sky, the Royals celebrated in front of their traveling supporters, hoisting the deutsche Glasschale for the third consecutive year. It was another showcase of their fearless, fast-paced brand of football—a team willing to run fake punts, go for two, and trust its quarterback to improvise under pressure. 

In a season that tested their resilience, Potsdam once again found a way to finish on top. With three straight championships and a dynamic young core led by Bullock, Bakare, and Bals, the Royals have cemented themselves as the modern dynasty of German football. For Dresden, the heartbreak was real, but the pride was evident—the Monarchs had helped produce one of the greatest German Bowls ever played, a night when the sport truly felt big-league in every sense.