German Semifinals: Monarchs muzzle Wilddogs to book another home-city title game showdown with Potsdam

The Dresden Monarchs have their return ticket. Now comes the difficult part.

Dresden shut down the Pforzheim Wilddogs 36–7 on Saturday at Heinz-Steyer-Stadion, securing another appearance in the German Football League championship game in their own city. David Moore III scored three rushing touchdowns, but the foundation was a defense that allowed just 89 yards of total offense and came within the final play of a shutout.

For head coach Greg Seamon and the Monarchs, the reward is familiar: the Potsdam Royals, October 3, Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion. Dresden’s third consecutive championship appearance will also be its third straight final against Potsdam. The Royals booked their place with a 39–12 victory over the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns.

Dresden gets another shot at Potsdam

The significance of getting back was hardly lost on anyone in Dresden. Last year, the Monarchs led Potsdam 23–16 at halftime before falling 33–23, with quarterback Justin Miller suffering a broken finger. Another final in front of their own supporters has driven this campaign, and the anticipation extended well beyond the locker room. According to the pregame Sächsische Zeitung report, 17,000 tickets had already been sold for the championship game before either finalist was known.

Pforzheim made Dresden work for its invitation.

Wilddogs make Dresden work early

The Wilddogs’ defense repeatedly stiffened near the goal line in the opening half, preventing the Monarchs from turning early possession into a comfortable lead. Davon Ferguson returned the opening kickoff 41 yards for Dresden, but the drive eventually produced a 30-yard Florian Finke field goal rather than a touchdown.

That was the only scoring of the first quarter. Pforzheim was hanging around, although its offense offered little indication that it could take advantage.

The first damaging mistake came on special teams. A snap sailed over the Wilddogs punter’s head, resulting in a safety and a 5–0 Dresden lead. Moore subsequently supplied the first touchdown, powering in from five yards. Finke’s extra point made it 12–0.

Still, this was no repeat of Dresden’s 61–14 quarterfinal demolition of Munich. Pforzheim continued to contest throws and disrupt possessions, keeping the home offense from finding a sustained rhythm. A Vance Feuerbacher interception helped Dresden maintain control, and Finke’s 27-yard field goal with 14 seconds left sent the Monarchs into halftime ahead 15–0.

The Wilddogs had kept the score respectable. Moving the ball was another matter entirely.

Monarchs defense shuts the door

Dresden ultimately allowed only five first downs, limiting Pforzheim to 24 rushing yards on 25 attempts and 65 yards through the air. The visitors converted just two of 12 third downs. With that kind of defensive support, the Monarchs could afford patience.

Moore rewarded it in the third quarter. Facing fourth-and-goal at the one, Dresden put the ball in his hands and he finished the job, extending the advantage to 22–0 after Finke’s kick. Rocky Lombardi then connected with Montigo Moss for a 17-yard touchdown, giving the Monarchs a 29–0 cushion heading into the final period.

Moore completes the hat trick

Moore completed his hat trick with a 22-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. His afternoon was an exercise in making carries count: nine attempts, 52 yards and three touchdowns. Lombardi completed 16 of 25 passes for 226 yards and a score, while Moss caught seven passes for 108 yards.

There was also a moment of club history. Finke’s extra point following Moore’s third touchdown made him Dresden’s all-time leading scorer, adding a personal milestone to an afternoon that delivered the team’s immediate objective.

Pforzheim finally broke through on its last play, Drequan Harris finding Matteo Dazzani for a 36-yard touchdown. Dazzani added the extra point, denying Dresden a shutout but doing little to alter the story of the afternoon.

The Monarchs outgained the Wilddogs 344–89 and never allowed Pforzheim’s early defensive resistance to become a genuine threat on the scoreboard. Their own offense had room for improvement, particularly in finishing first-half opportunities, but their defense gave the visitors almost nothing to work with.

Championship game comes home

Dresden has already beaten Potsdam once this season, winning 24–22 on the road in June. Repeating the result on October 3 would deliver the championship that slipped away a year ago.

The home-city final is secured. This time, Dresden wants to keep the trophy there.

Scoring summary

Dresden Monarchs 36, Pforzheim Wilddogs 7

Quarter scores: Dresden 3–12–14–7; Pforzheim 0–0–0–7

1st quarter

DRE – Florian Finke 30-yard field goal. 3–0.

2nd quarter

DRE – Safety, errant Pforzheim punt snap. 5–0.

DRE – David Moore III 5-yard run (Finke kick). 12–0.

DRE – Finke 27-yard field goal. 15–0.

3rd quarter

DRE – Moore 1-yard run (Finke kick). 22–0.

DRE – Montigo Moss 17-yard pass from Rocky Lombardi (Finke kick). 29–0.

4th quarter

DRE – Moore 22-yard run (Finke kick). 36–0.

PFO – Matteo Dazzani 36-yard pass from Drequan Harris (Dazzani kick). 36–7.

Attendance: 4,509, Heinz-Steyer-Stadion, Dresden.