The Frankfurt Galaxy survived a determined fourth-quarter comeback by the Prague Lions Sunday, holding on for a 37-34 victory at FK Viktoria Zizkov to secure a place in the European Football Alliance’s inaugural BIG4 playoff weekend.
Galaxy quarterback Zach Calzada completed 14 of 19 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, while Brevin Easton caught five passes for 110 yards and two scores. Ahsan Moore returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, and Ryan Rimmler supplied one of the highlights of the EFA season with a 62-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.
The win ended Frankfurt’s three-game losing streak and lifted the Galaxy to 4-6. Frankfurt will face the Munich Ravens in Saturday’s semifinal at PSD Bank Arena, while the Nordic Storm and the Paris Musketeers meet in the other BIG4 matchup. Prague closed its season at 2-8 despite outgaining Frankfurt 436-365 and recording 26 first downs to the Galaxy’s 16.
Frankfurt strikes immediately
Frankfurt needed only 17 seconds to take the lead. Moore fielded the opening kickoff at his own goal line and went the distance, giving the visitors a 7-0 advantage before either offense had taken the field.
Prague answered with a 35-yard Marek Hrubon field goal, but the Galaxy struck again after an out-of-bounds kickoff gave them the ball at their own 40. Antony Marvyn Bouembe opened the drive with a 24-yard run, and Calzada found Easton for a 33-yard touchdown three plays later. The Lions replied with Jaylon Henderson’s 30-yard touchdown run, cutting Frankfurt’s lead to 14-10.
The second quarter belonged largely to Prague, which controlled the ball for more than 10 minutes. Hrubon’s 43-yard field goal pulled the Lions within one, and Prague threatened to take the lead in the final minute. Jaylen Clay intercepted Henderson at the Frankfurt 17 and returned the ball 25 yards with 11 seconds remaining, however, giving the Galaxy one final opportunity.
Calzada completed a 14-yard pass to Paul Kavadia-Lenhardt, and Rimmler then drilled a 62-yard field goal as time expired. The long-range kick sent Frankfurt into halftime with a 17-13 lead and turned Prague’s late scoring opportunity into three Galaxy points.
Galaxy builds a cushion
After a scoreless opening stretch to the third quarter, Frankfurt mounted its most sustained drive of the day. The Galaxy went 92 yards in 10 plays, all but two of them runs, and Gerald Ameln finished the march with a 38-yard touchdown. Rimmler missed the extra point, leaving the score 23-13.
Prague needed only 55 seconds to answer as Henderson connected with Keyon Lesane Sr. for a 46-yard touchdown. Frankfurt responded just as quickly. On third-and-six from the Galaxy 44, Calzada hit Easton for a 56-yard score and a 30-20 lead with 1:22 left in the third quarter.
Prague makes a fourth-quarter push
The Lions refused to fade. Henderson found Lukas Kadlec for 29 yards on the first play of the fourth quarter and Martin Havelka for a 33-yard touchdown on the next, narrowing the gap to 30-27. Calzada then led an eight-play, 58-yard drive and threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Normen Schumm, restoring Frankfurt’s 10-point cushion with 9:35 remaining.
Prague answered with an 88-yard drive that consumed just over six minutes. Henderson completed five passes and added three runs on the possession, scoring from one yard out after a review upheld the touchdown. The extra point made it 37-34 with 3:31 to play.
The Lions never got the ball back. Bouembe converted three first downs on the final possession, including gains of eight and 10 yards after Prague timeouts, allowing Frankfurt to run out the clock and finally secure its postseason place.
Frankfurt finishes the job
Bouembe led the Galaxy with 113 yards on 18 carries, while Ameln added 60 yards and a touchdown on eight attempts. Frankfurt rushed for 182 yards and averaged 6.3 yards per carry. The Galaxy also played turnover-free football and did not allow a sack, although 11 penalties cost the visitors 110 yards.
Henderson accounted for most of Prague’s production, completing 27 of 42 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 85 yards and two more scores. Lesane caught 12 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown, and Havelka added three receptions for 52 yards and a score.
For Prague, the narrow defeat ended a difficult season with another competitive performance. For Frankfurt, it was not always comfortable, but after entering the finale needing a victory to control its own fate, the Galaxy made enough decisive plays to carry its season into the BIG4.
Scoring summary
First quarter
14:43 – Frankfurt Galaxy: Ahsan Moore 100-yard kickoff return (Ryan Rimmler kick), 7-0.
8:05 – Prague Lions: Marek Hrubon 35-yard field goal, 7-3.
6:55 – Frankfurt Galaxy: Brevin Easton 33-yard pass from Zach Calzada (Rimmler kick), 14-3.
4:01 – Prague Lions: Jaylon Henderson 30-yard run (Hrubon kick), 14-10.
Second quarter
5:48 – Prague Lions: Hrubon 43-yard field goal, 14-13.
0:00 – Frankfurt Galaxy: Rimmler 62-yard field goal, 17-13.
Third quarter
3:52 – Frankfurt Galaxy: Gerald Ameln 38-yard run (Rimmler kick failed), 23-13.
2:57 – Prague Lions: Keyon Lesane Sr. 46-yard pass from Henderson (Hrubon kick), 23-20.
1:22 – Frankfurt Galaxy: Easton 56-yard pass from Calzada (Rimmler kick), 30-20.
Fourth quarter
14:25 – Prague Lions: Martin Havelka 33-yard pass from Henderson (Hrubon kick), 30-27.
9:35 – Frankfurt Galaxy: Normen Schumm 8-yard pass from Calzada (Rimmler kick), 37-27.
3:31 – Prague Lions: Henderson 1-yard run (Hrubon kick), 37-34.