The Braunschweig New Yorker Lions (5-4) kept their playoff hopes alive with a dramatic 33-32 victory over the Berlin Rebels (6-4) in a chaotic German Football League clash at Eintracht Stadium, sealed by quarterback Karé Lyles’ two-yard rushing touchdown with 19 seconds remaining.
Rebels’ early dominance meets Lions’ resilience
The Berlin Rebels struck first with a methodical opening drive, but the Lions’ defense stiffened in the red zone, forcing a punt after key stops by Jonas Pflug (sack), Michael Stadler (tackle for loss), and Sebastian Graf (end-zone pass breakup). Braunschweig’s offense capitalized with a 12-play, 88-yard drive capped by Lyles’ two-yard rushing score early in the second quarter. Berlin responded explosively as Aaron Jackson returned a punt 72 yards to tie the game, then took a 14-7 halftime lead on Connor Kaegi’s one-yard touchdown pass to Filip Uderhardt.
Photo @tobiasfotowelt
Back-and-forth second half delivers fireworks
Braunschweig erased the deficit immediately after halftime, with Lyles connecting on a four-yard touchdown pass to running back Finn Oppermann (14-14). Kaegi reignited the Rebels with a 52-yard bomb to Jackson, though a missed PAT kept the lead at 20-14. The Lions countered with a trick play: Lyles lateraled to Tammo Vroom, who flipped to Philipp Dolezal before Lyles launched a 64-yard touchdown to CJ Okpalobi for a 21-20 advantage. Berlin reclaimed momentum through Kaegi’s second touchdown pass to Uderhardt (26-21), but Oppermann’s one-yard plunge gave Braunschweig a 27-26 lead early in the fourth.
Lyles’ late heroics overshadow Kaegi’s brilliance
Kaegi appeared to seal the game for Berlin with a five-yard rushing touchdown (32-27) at the two-minute mark, but Lyles engineered a 65-yard game-winning drive in 1:41. Key completions to Kirby Lewis and Okpalobi set up Lyles’ decisive two-yard scramble, capping a 347-yard, three-total-TD performance. The Rebels’ final Hail Mary attempt fell short despite Kaegi’s 4 TD passes and Jackson’s 172 all-purpose yards.
Key statistical contrasts
- Total touchdowns: Braunschweig 5, Berlin 5
- Red-zone efficiency: Braunschweig 4/5, Berlin 3/4
- Turnovers: 0 combined (no interceptions/fumbles)
- Special teams: Jackson’s 72-yard punt return TD vs. Okpalobi’s 55-yard kick return
Playoff implications
The Lions climb to third in the GFL North, while the Rebels remain second but lose ground in the divisional race. Braunschweig’s remaining schedule includes a Week 10 showdown against the Potsdam Royals, while Berlin faces the Dresden Monarchs.