Ben Holmes and Reilly Hennessey clash in ELF championship quarterback duel

| American Football | 09/07/2025

The Vienna Vikings’ Ben Holmes and Stuttgart Surge’s Reilly Hennessey—two contrasting quarterbacks with shared ambitions—anchor their teams’ title hopes in the 2025 ELF Championship Game, set for Stuttgart’s MHP Arena on today.

Hennessey’s homecoming and late-career surge
Reilly Hennessey, 29, has engineered the Surge’s historic run to their first ELF title game, throwing for 2,176 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions during the regular season while adding 120 rushing yards and six scores. His dual-threat prowess shone in the semifinal win over Munich, where two goal-line rushes sealed the victory. After nearly retiring post-college, Hennessey revived his career in Italy (winning a title with Parma Panthers) and Germany (claiming a German Bowl with Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns under Surge HC Jordan Neuman). Now, he aims to crown his journey by delivering Stuttgart’s first ELF championship on home soil. “Football’s given me friendships and experiences,” he reflects, though he admits contemplating life beyond the field.

Holmes’ precision and championship pedigree
Ben Holmes, the Vikings’ steady leader, seeks his first ELF title after guiding Vienna to a 28-20 semifinal win over Nordic Storm. Completing 22 of 29 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns, he dissected one of the league’s top defenses with trademark composure, targeting seven receivers and escaping pressure via sidearm throws. The 2024 ELF MVP has thrown 40 touchdowns against five interceptions this season, embodying Vienna’s efficient offense. “We’re not done yet,” Holmes stated postgame, emphasizing unfinished business after falling short in last year’s final. His ability to extend plays and exploit mismatches remains critical against Stuttgart’s fifth-ranked defense.

Contrasting styles, shared stakes
Hennessey’s dual-threat production (120 rushing yards, 6 TDs) contrasts with Holmes’ surgical efficiency (75.9% completion rate in the semifinal), setting the stage for a clash of styles. The Surge rely on Hennessey’s red-zone creativity and home crowd energy, while the Vikings trust Holmes’ playoff-tested poise. With Stuttgart hosting the league’s inaugural home-team final and Vienna chasing redemption, both quarterbacks face legacy-defining moments. Hennessey’s quest for a storybook ending meets Holmes’ relentless pursuit of perfection—a duel where one error could tilt the trophy.

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