Graz Giants overwhelm Salzburg Ducks to book AFL semifinal berth

The Graz Giants stormed into the Austrian Football League semifinals Saturday, rolling past the Salzburg Ducks 70-19 in a Wild Card playoff game at Eggenberg Stadium behind a relentless offensive performance that featured five touchdowns from Fritz Bleckmann.

After trailing early, Graz scored at will the rest of the afternoon to set up a semifinal road matchup against the Prague Black Panthers.

Ducks strike first

The visitors could not have scripted a better opening drive.

Quarterback Gavin Sukup guided the Salzburg offense the length of the field before connecting with Pavo Lukač for the game’s first touchdown. A missed extra point left the Ducks with a 6-0 lead, but it proved to be one of the few bright moments of the afternoon.

The Giants answered immediately. Quarterback Bastian Steinmair marched the offense downfield before Jonas Dachs-Wiesinger punched in a one-yard touchdown. The extra point gave Graz a 7-6 advantage.

The game changed shortly afterward when Salzburg lost defensive leader Jamario Howard to a broken hand. Already short-handed entering the contest, the Ducks struggled to slow the Giants after his departure.

Bleckmann powers the offense

From that point forward, Bleckmann took center stage.

The powerful running back scored twice in the opening half to extend the lead before adding two more touchdowns prior to halftime as Graz built a commanding 35-12 advantage.

Salzburg briefly stayed within striking distance when Sukup found Lukač for their second touchdown connection of the afternoon late in the second quarter, but the Giants continued to answer every challenge with another scoring drive.

Steinmair efficiently directed an offense that consistently found running lanes and big-play opportunities against the depleted Ducks defense.

Giants finish in style

Any thoughts of a Salzburg comeback disappeared moments after halftime.

Eddie Morales returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown to stretch the lead to 42-12 and ignite another scoring barrage.

Although the Ducks answered with another touchdown to cut the deficit to 42-19, the remainder of the game belonged entirely to Graz. Jakob Begander, Bleckmann with his fifth touchdown of the afternoon, Andreas Zechner and Fabian Pließnig all reached the end zone as the Giants piled up 70 points in one of the most explosive playoff performances in recent AFL history.

Following the game, Salzburg head coach Joe Ashfield praised his team’s effort despite the defeat, while Graz head coach Stefan Pokorny credited his entire offense after a dominant performance.

With the victory, the Graz Giants continue their postseason run and now turn their attention to next Saturday’s semifinal showdown with the Prague Black Panthers, while the Salzburg Ducks’ season comes to an end after a courageous but injury-hit playoff appearance.