GFL: Kiel Baltic Hurricanes rally past Pforzheim Wilddogs 26-22 in fourth-quarter thriller

The Kiel Baltic Hurricanes twice came from behind and then leaned on their defense to secure a hard-fought 26-22 victory over the Pforzheim Wilddogs Saturday at Kilia Kiel Stadium.

Jarvis McClam caught the winning 35-yard touchdown pass from PJ Settles with 7:38 remaining, and the Hurricanes forced a turnover on downs on Pforzheim’s next possession before running out the clock. The win, Kiel’s third of the German Football League season, lifted the Hurricanes from seventh to fifth in the GFL North standings.

Pforzheim builds an early lead

A crowd of 1,349 watched a game in which Pforzheim controlled much of the early action. After both offenses opened with two empty possessions, Wilddogs quarterback Drequan Harris found Theo Michel for a 19-yard touchdown on the final play of the first quarter. Luca Hirschberger added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

The Wilddogs doubled their advantage early in the second quarter when Nick Oliver intercepted Settles and returned the ball 21 yards for a touchdown. The conversion failed, but Pforzheim had built a 13-0 lead and appeared ready to take control.

Hurricanes answer before halftime

Kiel’s response was immediate. Isaiah Harris fielded the ensuing kickoff at his own eight-yard line and raced 92 yards for a touchdown. Jeremy Conley blocked the extra point, but the return changed the energy inside the stadium and brought the Hurricanes back into the game.

Settles then directed a 93-yard drive late in the half, finishing it with a two-yard touchdown pass to Lars-Ole Gloe with 29 seconds remaining. Anousheh Fulford’s extra point tied the score at 13-13, although Hirschberger sent Pforzheim to the locker room with a 16-13 lead by converting a 28-yard field goal as time expired.

Kiel moves in front

The Hurricanes moved in front for the first time late in the third quarter. A 56-yard completion from Settles to Isaiah Harris put Kiel inside the Pforzheim 10. Three straight passes from the four-yard line failed, but on fourth down Settles kept the ball and scored. Fulford’s kick made it 20-16.

Pforzheim answered with a long drive that stretched from the end of the third quarter into the fourth. Harris found AJ Coons for a seven-yard touchdown with 9:41 remaining, giving the Wilddogs a 22-20 advantage after the extra point missed.

McClam delivers the winning score

Again, Kiel responded quickly. Paul Mausling’s kickoff return gave the Hurricanes favorable field position, and Maximilian Lundahl broke a 23-yard run before a holding penalty pushed Kiel back. Facing second-and-20 from the Pforzheim 35, Settles delivered the decisive strike to McClam, who covered the final 10 yards after the catch for the touchdown. A two-point rushing attempt failed, leaving Kiel ahead 26-22.

The Wilddogs still had more than seven minutes to answer, but the Hurricanes defense held. Pforzheim’s final possession ended on downs, allowing Settles and the offense to drain the remaining time and finish the game in victory formation.

Settles makes the difference

Settles completed 13 of 31 passes for 181 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He was even more effective as a runner, gaining 75 yards on eight carries and scoring once. McClam caught three passes for 50 yards, while Isaiah Harris produced 61 receiving yards in addition to his 92-yard kickoff-return touchdown.

Drequan Harris threw for 149 yards and two touchdowns and added 60 yards on the ground for Pforzheim. The Wilddogs outgained Kiel 357-319, rushed for 208 yards and converted seven of 14 third downs, but they could not turn those advantages into the final score. Kiel converted only two of nine third downs, yet went two-for-three on fourth down and scored touchdowns on both red-zone visits.

Kiel climbs in the North

Hurricanes head coach Timo Zorn called it an absolute team effort and credited a home crowd that was as loud as it had been in a long time. The result sends Kiel into next week’s return game at the Potsdam Royals with renewed momentum before the Hurricanes close the regular season at home against the Hildesheim Invaders on August 29.

Scoring summary

First quarter

PFW – Theo Michel 19-yard pass from Drequan Harris (Luca Hirschberger kick), 0:00. Pforzheim 7-0.

Second quarter

PFW – Nick Oliver 21-yard interception return (kick failed), 11:01. Pforzheim 13-0.

KBH – Isaiah Harris 92-yard kickoff return (kick blocked), 10:44. Pforzheim 13-6.

KBH – Lars-Ole Gloe 2-yard pass from PJ Settles (Anousheh Fulford kick), 0:29. Tied 13-13.

PFW – Luca Hirschberger 28-yard field goal, 0:00. Pforzheim 16-13.

Third quarter

KBH – PJ Settles 4-yard run (Anousheh Fulford kick), 3:56. Kiel 20-16.

Fourth quarter

PFW – AJ Coons 7-yard pass from Drequan Harris (kick failed), 9:41. Pforzheim 22-20.

KBH – Jarvis McClam 35-yard pass from PJ Settles (run failed), 7:38. Kiel 26-22.