Austria: Graz Giants outlast Prague Black Panthers in weather-shortened clash
The Graz Giants (4-1) solidified their playoff positioning with a 42-28 victory over the defending champion Prague Black Panthers (2-3) in a rain-impacted Austrian Football League showdown, leveraging explosive special teams and a potent air attack to secure their fourth straight win.
Giants’ special teams spark early lead
Prague opened scoring with Martin Mandik’s 42-yard field goal, but Graz’s Edwin Morales immediately countered with a 94-yard kickoff return touchdown. Julian Kapellari added a second return TD late in the first quarter, staking the hosts to a 14-6 lead. Mandik’s second field goal trimmed the deficit, but quarterback Mateo Renteria’s 38-yard strike to Kapellari extended the advantage to 21-6.
Photo: © Kunzfeld & Kunzfeld
Renteria’s arm extends advantage
Renteria (3 TD passes) dissected Prague’s secondary, hitting Valentin Reissner for a leaping 18-yard score before halftime (28-13). The Giants’ QB continued his dominance in the third quarter, connecting with Jakob Schneeberger on a 24-yard seam route to push the lead to 35-13. Schneeberger’s second TD—a 9-yard reception—seemingly put the game out of reach at 42-13.
Panthers’ late rally falls short
Prague mounted a frenetic comeback behind QB Norman Douglas, who found Lukas Bacovsky for a 16-yard TD and executed a two-point conversion. A successful onside kick set up Douglas’ second scoring pass, cutting the deficit to 42-28. However, torrential rain halted all momentum in the fourth quarter, with both teams failing to score amid sloppy conditions.
Coaches’ takeaways
“Special teams set the tone, and Mateo [Renteria] was clinical,” said Graz coach Stefan Pokorny. Prague’s Jayson Miller acknowledged the weather’s impact but credited Graz’s execution: “We fought hard, but they capitalized on every mistake.”
The Giants now prepare for a pivotal matchup against the Vienna Vikings, while the Panthers aim to regroup versus the Salzburg Ducks. With playoff races tightening, Graz’s balanced attack has emerged as a title threat—even as the elements remind all teams of football’s unpredictability.
