Hildesheim Invaders shut down Berlin Rebels 26-2 behind dominant defense

The Hildesheim Invaders (7-3) leaned on a suffocating defensive performance and pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Berlin Rebels (2-8) 26-2 in German Football League action at Helios Homefield in Hildesheim.

Invaders strike first

The Invaders went to work on the ground early, with Jeremie Kwanzambi Beni finding room as Hildesheim put together a 13-play, 90-yard drive.

Karon Johnson finished the march himself, keeping the ball and racing eight yards into the end zone to give the Invaders a 6-0 lead.

From there, the Hildesheim defense took control. The Rebels couldn’t establish their running game, while the pass rush consistently made life difficult for quarterback Tyquell Fields.

Neither offense could generate points in the second quarter, leaving the Invaders with a 6-0 advantage at halftime.

Hildesheim creates some separation

The Invaders finally gave themselves some breathing room in the third quarter.

Nelson Hughes III moved Hildesheim 80 yards on a 10-play drive, working the offense down to the Berlin one before connecting with Paul Terjung for the touchdown and a 12-0 lead.

Hughes finished the afternoon completing 20 of 26 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown. Terjung was his busiest target, hauling in 11 passes for 88 yards.

Meanwhile, the Hildesheim defense continued squeezing the Rebels offense. Berlin finished with only 18 yards on the ground, with Nazar Bombata managing 22 yards on 11 carries.

Johnson puts it away

Hildesheim finally broke the game open in the fourth quarter.

Johnson took a quarterback keeper 25 yards to the end zone, stretching the lead to 18-0. The versatile Johnson struck again later, this time dropping back and finding Terjung for a 16-yard touchdown.

Kwanzambi Beni powered across on the two-point conversion to push the margin to 26-0.

The Rebels eventually got on the scoreboard with a safety, but the Invaders defense never allowed Berlin to reach the end zone.

Fields completed nine of 17 passes for 116 yards but was intercepted twice. The Rebels were held to 144 yards of total offense.

Invaders close out strong at home

Kwanzambi Beni led the Hildesheim ground attack with 101 yards on 15 carries, while Johnson added 53 yards and two touchdowns on six attempts. Terjung finished with both of the Invaders’ receiving touchdowns.

The win moves Hildesheim to 7-3, while Berlin drops to 2-8.