ELF: Munich Ravens upset Stuttgart Surge with 32-30 away win 

| American Football | 08/14/2023

Sunday saw the Munich Ravens travel to Stuttgart and upset conference-leading Stuttgart Surge in Stuttgart, handing them their second loss of the European League of Football season in a back-and-forth 32-30 victory.

The visitors opened up scoring with an 80-yard drive, topped off by a Chad Jeffries pass over the middle to Sixten Dragan who ran into the endzone to put the Ravens ahead. This was followed by an unsuccessful PAT, keeping the Ravens up 6-0.

On his first drive back from injury, Stuttgart quarterback Reilly Hennessey marched the Surge down the field with running back Nicolas Khandar punching in the score to put Stuttgart on the board with a 7-6 lead. Both teams exchanged scores in the second quarter with touchdowns from Stuttgart wideout Louis Geyer and Munich running back Tomiwa Oyewo on top of a field goal apiece. The Surge entered the half up 17-16.

The second half saw rushing touchdowns from both Hennessey and Oyewo, and the teams were deadlocked at 23-23 entering the fourth quarter but with Munich on the move.  Jeffries had his team on the Surge 36 yard line as the final stanza opened and one play later, he burst outside and raced 31 yards to put the Ravens up by a score, 29-23.

Hennessey and the Surge answered immediately though, as the quarterback hit ex-New Jersey Generals (USFL) WR Darrell Stewart Jr. for a touchdown to take a one-point lead, 30-29.

Stuttgart’s lead would not last, however, as Ravens’ kicker Rob Werner split the uprights for a 43 yard field goal and the Ravens defense did the rest to give Munich their fifth straight win of the season.

Both quarterbacks had near-flawless performances in the offensive shootout; Chad Jeffries was an extremely efficient 21 of 23 for 208 yards and one score while Hennessey threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns while completing 76% of his passes. Oyewo was another standout performer for Munich, rushing for a game-best 128 yards and two touchdowns.

A current student at Bournemouth University as well as a quarterback with eight years of playing experience. Brad's goal is to be a part of the growth of the game around the world through journalism and media.