Dresden Monarchs advance to home final with dramatic semifinal victory

The Dresden Monarchs secured their place in the GFL Bowl with a hard-fought 31-24 victory over the Ravensburg Razorbacks in a thrilling semifinal matchup on the road. Backup quarterback Clifton McDowell, making his first start in place of the injured Justin Miller, delivered an impressive performance completing 16 of 24 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns, leading the team to a comeback victory that sets up a championship game in their home stadium.

Overcoming early adversity
The Monarchs faced significant challenges from the outset, playing without starting quarterback Justin Miller and battling against Ravensburg’s potent offense led by quarterback Broghean McGovern, who completed 26 of 54 passes for 296 yards and added 107 rushing yards. After taking an early 3-0 lead on a 21-yard Florian Finke field goal late in the first quarter, Dresden found themselves trailing 14-3 as McGovern orchestrated scoring drives that included both an 8-yard rushing touchdown and a 34-yard passing touchdown to Tim Müller. The situation appeared dire when McDowell threw an interception to Jonah Choate, but the special teams unit provided the spark they desperately needed.

Special teams spark and offensive response
Tyler Hudson ignited the Monarchs comeback with a spectacular 100-yard kickoff return touchdown immediately after Ravensburg’s second score, cutting the deficit to 14-10. After Ravensburg extended their lead to 17-10 with a 33-yard Tim Müller field goal, McDowell connected with Konstantin Stricker on a critical third-and-28 situation for a 75-yard touchdown, tying the game at 17-17 heading into halftime. This remarkable completion accounted for Stricker’s only reception but proved to be a game-changing moment.

Second-half defensive stand and clutch scoring
The Monarchs defense made crucial adjustments at halftime that completely changed the game’s momentum. After a promising third-quarter drive ended with an interception in the end zone, the defense responded by shutting down Ravensburg’s previously dominant offense. McDowell then scored on a courageous 5-yard rushing touchdown to take their first lead since the opening quarter at 24-17, followed by another 20-yard touchdown connection with Tyler Hudson (who finished with 6 receptions for 103 yards) to establish a 31-17 advantage in the final quarter.

Final minute drama and championship berth
Ravensburg mounted a late comeback attempt with a 5-yard touchdown pass from McGovern to Aidan Eneking (who caught 8 passes for 80 yards) and successful onside kick recovery, creating a tense final minute. The Monarchs defense held firm on four consecutive attempts by Broghean McGovern to tie the game, securing the victory and their place in the GFL Bowl. The win sets up a championship matchup against the Potsdam Royals at Rudolf Harbig Stadium in Dresden, fulfilling the team’s season-long goal of hosting the final and giving them an opportunity to compete for the championship before their home fans.