GFL Semifinals: Four teams, two tickets to the German Bowl

The German Football League playoffs are down to four, with the unbeaten Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (13-0) hosting the defending champion Potsdam Royals (12-1) and the undefeated Dresden Monarchs (13-0) welcoming the Pforzheim Wilddogs (9-4) Saturday with two places in the German Bowl on the line.

All four home teams survived the quarterfinals, but they did it in dramatically different ways. Schwäbisch Hall escaped a three-point fight with Düsseldorf, Potsdam pulled away from Ravensburg after halftime, Pforzheim leaned on defense and special teams to eliminate Hildesheim, while Dresden buried Munich before the first half was over.

Potsdam Royals (12-1) @ Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (13-0)

Something has to give at Optima Sportpark.

The Unicorns are still perfect, but the Düsseldorf Panther pushed them to the edge in a 23-20 quarterfinal. Schwäbisch Hall piled up 436 yards, including 309 on the ground, but needed a 95-yard special-teams touchdown and a second-half defensive adjustment to survive.

Kelley Joiner again powered the running game. He broke loose for a 42-yard run after halftime and later ripped off a 32-yard touchdown as the Unicorns built a 23-7 lead before Düsseldorf came charging back.

Now comes a completely different challenge.

The Royals rolled for 516 yards in their 48-21 quarterfinal victory over the Ravensburg Razorbacks. Hugh “Bay” Harvey completed 20 of 34 passes for 277 yards and four touchdowns, while Chrisman Kyei hammered away for 145 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

The Potsdam defense was even more impressive, holding Ravensburg to 175 total yards, minus-19 on the ground and an 0-for-10 afternoon on third down.

That sets up a semifinal between the South champion and the defending German champion. Schwäbisch Hall survived its quarterfinal scare. Potsdam hit another gear after halftime. This time, there is no next week for the loser.

Pforzheim Wilddogs (9-4) @ Dresden Monarchs (13-0)

The Wilddogs have already made club history. Now they head to Heinz-Steyer-Stadion trying to end the only other perfect season left in Germany.

Pforzheim punched its semifinal ticket by beating the Hildesheim Invaders 21-8 in the first home playoff game in club history. Drequan Harris ran for two touchdowns and finished with 101 yards on 23 carries, while Jeremy Conley burst through to block a punt and recovered it in the end zone.

The Wilddogs didn’t score after halftime, but their defense made sure they didn’t have to. Hildesheim managed only one touchdown, and the Pforzheim secondary came up with interceptions when the Invaders tried to mount a late comeback.

The assignment gets considerably tougher in Dresden.

The Monarchs turned their quarterfinal against the Munich Cowboys into a 61-14 rout, scoring 21 points in the opening quarter and 34 more in the second.

Dresden forced turnovers on Munich’s first three possessions and turned all three into touchdowns. The Monarchs finished with seven sacks, four takeaways and six touchdowns on seven trips into the red zone. Rocky Lombardi threw three touchdown passes and broke free for a 44-yard score before giving way to Casey Thompson, who added two more touchdown passes.

The Wilddogs have reached the semifinals for the first time in club history. The Monarchs, meanwhile, are one victory away from playing for the championship in their own city.

By Saturday evening, two seasons will be over and two teams will be packing their bags for the German Bowl in Dresden on October 3.