GFL Quarterfinal Playoffs: Eight teams begin the road to the German Bowl

The German Football League playoffs kick off Saturday, September 12 with four quarterfinals, two unbeaten division champions and eight teams now four quarters away from either advancing or going home.

The Dresden Monarchs (12-0) and Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (12-0) swept through the regular season to win the North and South, respectively, and enter as the teams everyone else is trying to knock off. The Potsdam Royals (11-1) and Pforzheim Wilddogs (8-4) also earned home games, while Ravensburg, Munich, Hildesheim and Düsseldorf hit the road.

Two of the matchups are regular-season rematches. For the Razorbacks and Cowboys, that means a chance to erase convincing losses when it matters most.

IFM Razorbacks Ravensburg (8-4) @ Potsdam Royals (11-1)

The Razorbacks already know exactly what Potsdam can do.

The Royals traveled to Ravensburg on June 6 and returned home with a 34-7 victory. Ravensburg stayed with them early, but the game swung when Aashari Crosswell intercepted Broghean McGovern at the Potsdam one-yard line. The Royals responded with a 99-yard touchdown drive and eventually pulled away.

Now the location changes, and not in Ravensburg’s favor.

The Razorbacks finished third in the South after an 8-4 regular season, while Potsdam’s 11-1 record secured second place in the North and a home quarterfinal.

McGovern gives Ravensburg the passing attack to make things interesting, but the Razorbacks will have to produce a dramatically different game from the first meeting — this time on the Royals’ field.

Munich Cowboys (6-6) @ Dresden Monarchs (12-0)

If Munich needs any reminder of the size of the assignment, the Cowboys only have to look back at July 26.

The Monarchs went to Munich and rolled to a 48-10 victory in the teams’ interconference meeting. Rocky Lombardi threw for 248 yards and four touchdowns as Dresden remained unbeaten.

There was an important complication for the Cowboys that afternoon. Starting quarterback Nicholas Semptimphelter suffered a knee injury on Munich’s opening possession, leaving the Cowboys trying to recover against one of the league’s best teams without their starting quarterback.

Dresden never slowed down after that victory and eventually completed a perfect 12-0 regular season to claim the North.

Now Munich gets another shot, but the rematch comes in Dresden. The Cowboys finished fourth in the South at 6-6 and will need a major upset to prevent the Monarchs from taking another step toward a German Bowl that will be played at Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion in Dresden on October 3.

Hildesheim Invaders (9-3) @ Pforzheim Wilddogs (8-4)

There is no regular-season rematch to lean on here, and that helps make Hildesheim–Pforzheim one of the most intriguing quarterfinals of the weekend.

The Invaders finished third in the North at 9-3 and arrive in the playoffs after a dramatic 23-20 victory over the Berlin Rebels in their regular-season finale. Tristan Eikenberg’s 27-yard field goal as time expired sent Hildesheim into the postseason with momentum.

Waiting in Pforzheim is a Wilddogs team that finished 8-4 and claimed second place in the South.

Drequan Harris has driven the Pforzheim offense throughout the season, while the Wilddogs have already demonstrated that they can go toe-to-toe with elite opposition. They led unbeaten Schwäbisch Hall by two touchdowns earlier this season before the Unicorns rallied for a 28-23 victory.

Unlike the first two quarterfinals, these teams haven’t seen each other this season. There is no previous game plan to adjust and no score to avenge — just a place in the GFL semifinals on the line.

Düsseldorf Panther (6-6) @ Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (12-0)

The Düsseldorf Panther also face an opponent they did not meet during the regular season.

Unfortunately for the Panther, that opponent hasn’t lost to anybody.

The Unicorns completed a perfect 12-0 regular season, winning the South and securing home-field advantage for the quarterfinals. Schwäbisch Hall scored 515 points while finding different ways to win throughout the season, with Kelley Joiner giving the offense a dangerous presence on the ground.

Düsseldorf finished fourth in the North at 6-6 to earn its place in the postseason. The Panther knew before the final weekend that a trip to Schwäbisch Hall was waiting for them.

There is no first meeting to study and no previous result to overturn. Düsseldorf simply has to do something no team has managed all season — beat the Unicorns.

By Saturday night, eight teams will be down to four, and the path toward the German Bowl will suddenly look a lot shorter.