Dresden Monarchs Defeat Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 31-8 in early season GFL Showdown

AFI | American Football | 05/26/2026

Photo: Bennet Henße

The Dresden Monarchs (3-0) continued their impressive start to the season with a commanding 31-8 victory over the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes (1-1) in a German Football League matchup. The game, held at Kilia Stadium, displayed the Monarchs’ strong defense and efficient offense, allowing them to maintain their unbeaten record.

Monarchs Strike First

The Monarchs wasted no time establishing their dominance. Kicker Florian Finke opened the scoring with a 47-yard field goal, putting Dresden up 3-0. The Hurricanes struggled to find their rhythm early on, and things took a turn for the worse when quarterback PJ Settles threw an interception to Lucas Masero, who returned it 90 yards for a touchdown, extending the Monarchs‘ lead to 10-0. Despite a solid defensive effort from Kiel, including a sack by Thiago Lessow, they couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities.

Dresden Dominates the First Half

As the second quarter unfolded, Dresden continued to apply pressure. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi connected with Anthony Tittel for an 18-yard touchdown, making it 17-0. Just before halftime, Lombardi found Montigo Moss for a 24-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 24-0. The Hurricanes entered the locker room frustrated, having failed to convert on several scoring opportunities.

Kiel Battles Back, But It’s Not Enough

The Hurricanes came out strong in the second half, driving down the field but failing to score on four attempts from the one-yard line. They finally got on the board with a safety, making it 24-2. In the fourth quarter, Kiel managed to score a touchdown with a one-yard pass from Settles to Klaas Sengstacke, narrowing the gap to 24-8. However, the Monarchs quickly responded with another touchdown from Lombardi to Moss, sealing the game at 31-8.

Despite the loss, Kiel showed resilience and determination. Head coach Timo Zorn acknowledged the missed opportunities but praised his team’s effort. The Hurricanes will look to bounce back next week when they host the Potsdam Royals for their Salute to Service Gameday on May 30. Meanwhile, Dresden will play host to the Berlin Rebels on June 6.