Berlin Thunder survive messy Alpine Rams debut to claim first AFLE win

By John Mahnen

The Berlin Thunder did not produce a masterpiece Sunday evening in Biel, Switzerland. What they did produce was something far more useful after their rough Week 1 introduction to the American Football League Europe: a win.

Behind three touchdown passes from quarterback Jakeb Sullivan and a defense that bent but held the Alpine Rams scoreless until midway through the third quarter, Berlin defeated the expansion Rams 24–14 at Tissot Arena, improving to 1–1 in the AFLE’s inaugural season.

For the Rams, it was an awkward, stop-start franchise debut that had Murphy’s Law written all over it. Technical issues delayed kickoff by more than two hours, pushing the start from the scheduled late-afternoon window to 18:15. By the time the game finally began, both teams looked as if they had been standing around too long. The first quarter was scoreless, the flags came early and often, and the rhythm never really settled.

Berlin, however, handled the chaos better.

Sullivan settles the offense

A week after being overwhelmed by the Vienna Vikings, head coach Shawn Cooper’s team looked far more organized offensively, even if the penalty problem is not yet fixed. Offensive coordinator John Shannon deserves credit for getting Sullivan into a much better rhythm and for using the full width of the Thunder receiving corps. Sullivan completed 23 of 34 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, spreading the ball to six receivers.

Niklas Schumm was the most explosive of the group, catching five passes for 94 yards and a touchdown. Jon Cole added seven receptions for 85 yards and a score, while Bais Kouanda, one of Berlin’s few bright spots in Week 1, again made his impact felt with four catches for 41 yards and a touchdown.

The Thunder finally broke through early in the second quarter. After a penalty-filled red zone sequence stalled at the Alpine 16, Nils Schauerte converted a 33-yard field goal to give Berlin a 3–0 lead.

Rams miss their opportunities

The Rams immediately showed why they could become dangerous once the operation settles down. Quarterback Gabriel Cunningham hit Benjamin Lolmede for a 50-yard gain on the next possession, but another Alpine penalty helped derail the drive. Cunningham eventually missed on fourth down from the Berlin 23, and the Thunder punished the mistake. Sullivan struck on third-and-eight, finding Schumm for a 35-yard touchdown and a 10–0 Berlin lead.

The most damaging sequence for Alpine came in the final minute of the first half. With the Rams driving from Berlin territory, Cunningham completed a pass to Lolmede, but Simon Homadi forced a fumble and Will Johnson III recovered for the Thunder. Three plays later, Sullivan hit Emmanuel Eze for 32 yards, scrambled for nine more, then found Kouanda for a 24-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left.

Instead of going into halftime within one score or with momentum, Alpine trailed 17–0.

That sequence was the game in miniature. The Rams had flashes. Berlin had answers.

Thunder build a commanding lead

The Thunder extended the lead immediately after halftime. Jon Cole returned the second-half kickoff to the Berlin 42, and two Alpine defensive penalties helped the Thunder cross midfield. Sullivan then hit Cole for 13 yards and, on the next snap, found him again for a 26-yard touchdown. At 24–0, Berlin looked ready to run away with it.

To Alpine’s credit, Joshua Fitzgerald’s team did not fold in its first outing. Offensive coordinator Douglas Fryer leaned more on Cunningham’s mobility, and the quarterback responded. Cunningham finished 15 of 27 passing for 248 yards and added 51 rushing yards and two touchdowns. His 15-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter finally put the Rams on the board, cutting the deficit to 24–7.

Defense closes it out

Early in the fourth, the Rams put together their best drive of the night. Cunningham connected with Lou De Boe, Kevin Kaya and Devan Burrell, then hit Kaya for 36 yards to set up first-and-goal. Cunningham finished the march himself with a five-yard touchdown run, trimming Berlin’s lead to 24–14 with 9:37 left.

That was where Raul Saavedra’s Berlin defense deserves credit. The Thunder had lost control of the game’s tempo, but they did not lose control of the scoreboard. Alpine gained 331 total yards and averaged 6.4 yards per play, but Berlin kept the Rams to 3-of-11 on third downs, forced one turnover, and held Cunningham without a passing touchdown.

Pablo de Diego led Berlin with eight tackles, while Homadi added six tackles and the forced fumble. Nosa Uyimwen recorded Berlin’s lone sack, and the Thunder defense repeatedly forced Alpine to earn everything the hard way.

Plenty remains to fix

That said, Cooper’s staff still has plenty to clean up. Berlin committed 15 penalties for 110 yards, only one week after discipline was a major talking point in the loss to Vienna. The Thunder were also 0-for-2 in the red zone and failed to put the Rams away cleanly in the fourth quarter, including a missed field goal and a late Sullivan fumble.

Alpine’s issues were even more glaring. Fitzgerald, Fryer and defensive coordinator Everett Withers can take positives from the second-half fight, Cunningham’s dual-threat performance, and a defense that recorded five tackles for loss and kept Berlin scoreless in the fourth quarter. Oliver Obolela led the Rams with nine tackles, while Oluwaferanmi Okunlola added eight. Chad Walrond had six tackles and two tackles for loss, and the Rams’ defense made Berlin work for long stretches.

But 18 penalties for 133 yards is not survivable football. Nor is a 0–24 hole in a franchise debut. The Rams were 2-for-2 in the red zone, which shows execution near the goal line, but they did not get there often enough before the game had tilted away from them.

Berlin leaves Switzerland with a needed reset. It was scrappy, imperfect and at times ugly, but it was also a win. Alpine leaves with evidence that Cunningham can be a problem for defenses and that the roster has enough talent to compete, but also with a very clear message: the AFLE will punish every delay, every flag and every missed chance.

Scoring summary

Second quarter

BER — Nils Schauerte 33-yard field goal, 13:57. Berlin Thunder 3, Alpine Rams 0

BER — Niklas Schumm 35-yard pass from Jakeb Sullivan, Schauerte kick, 7:55. Berlin Thunder 10, Alpine Rams 0

BER — Bais Kouanda 24-yard pass from Jakeb Sullivan, Schauerte kick, 0:12. Berlin Thunder 17, Alpine Rams 0

Third quarter

BER — Jon Cole 26-yard pass from Jakeb Sullivan, Schauerte kick, 12:54. Berlin Thunder 24, Alpine Rams 0

ALP — Gabriel Cunningham 15-yard run, Adrian Saliu kick, 4:31. Berlin Thunder 24, Alpine Rams 7

Fourth quarter

ALP — Gabriel Cunningham 5-yard run, Saliu kick, 9:37. Berlin Thunder 24, Alpine Rams 14