ELF Playoffs: Austrian RB Anton Wegan and the Vienna Vikings aiming to rush their way to an ELF Championship

| American Football | 09/11/2022

On Sunday, the Vienna Vikings will host a European League of Football playoff game against the Barcelona Dragons.  Although it is their first year in the ELF, the Vikings have had a phenomenal season, finishing 10-2 and in second place in the league.  

One of the players leading the way has been Austrian running back Anton Wegan.  With 116 carries for 731 yards on the season, the 26-year-old Wegan ranks third in the league in rushing yards and has the best yardage per carry out of any running back with at least 60 carries.  He’s also scored six touchdowns on the ground.  Furthermore, he has proven to be a capable receiver out of the backfield, catching 11 passes for 144 yards and a pair of receiving touchdowns on the season.

The last time the Vikings played the Dragons, back on August 28th, Wegan had a big day, carrying the ball 16 times for 94 yards and a touchdown.  That touchdown came in highlight fashion, as he absolutely steamrolled a Dragons defender on his way to the end zone for a 13 yard touchdown.

Anton shares the Vikings’ backfield with his brother, Florian.  In 2020, the brothers won the Austrian Bowl, the championship game of the Austrian Football League, with the Vikings.  That season, they were named offensive co-MVPs.  Even as the team went up a level of competition, Anton and Florian have not slowed down, as they have been key pieces in the team’s outstanding season.

When asked about this transition from the AFL to the ELF, Anton Wegan admired how the team handled it all, and praised the team-first attitude of his teammates.

  “I think we came together really well (in) a truly unique and new challenge that everyone in the organization embraced,” he said.  “I feel like we did a great job of forming a team and bonding with the new additions out of Europe and the US.  In my mind that is ultimately what you saw on the field this year as well.  A team that plays for each other and can be dominant in every phase of the game.  We truly find our strengths in the team and not in individuals.  We never care about any individual stats.  We are all about the team and the success and that’s what made us successful so far.”

It is obvious that Wegan really cares about his teammates and his community, and that the Vikings have formed a great trust that makes them stronger on game days.  When asked if he had a favorite moment of the season so far, he said:

“It’s hard to find a specific moment because every single down, every single snap with my team on that practice field and ultimately on Sundays was a memorable moment for sure.  But running out of that tunnel for the first time at home playing in front of our city, representing the name in front of the jersey was truly special.  But I just love every second I am out there with my teammates and coaches because it truly has been special with them.”