The Kiel Baltic Hurricanes shook off a dreadful start and delivered their most complete performance of the season Saturday, defeating the Berlin Rebels 37-10 in front of 1,402 spectators at Kilia Stadion.
The victory was Kiel’s second of the German Football League season and its first at home. It also pulled the Hurricanes to 2-6, level in the win column with the 2-5 Rebels and holding the head-to-head advantage as both clubs battle near the bottom of the GFL North standings.
Defense sets the tone
Berlin had the first major opportunity after the teams exchanged punts. A deflected PJ Settles pass was intercepted by Rebels linebacker Paul Seifert deep in Kiel territory, giving the visitors the ball near the Hurricanes’ 10-yard line. Kiel’s defense responded with a crucial early stand, keeping Berlin out of the end zone and forcing Kris Cain to settle for a 27-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.
That stop proved to be the turning point. After struggling through its first two possessions, the Kiel offense found its rhythm and took control of the game in the second quarter.
Settles put the Hurricanes in front when he connected with returning receiver Isaiah Harris for a 19-yard touchdown. Anousheh Fulford added the extra point for a 7-3 lead. The Settles-to-Harris combination struck again later in the quarter, this time from 17 yards, before Lorenz Rotermund powered into the end zone on an eight-yard run to make it 21-3.
Photo: Marc Seefeldt
Berlin mounted its best drive of the first half in the closing two minutes. Quarterback Tyquell Fields used his legs to move the Rebels into Kiel territory and completed a pass to Carl Luckman that put the ball near the goal line. The Hurricanes again refused to break, stopping Berlin on fourth down at the five-yard line to preserve the 18-point halftime advantage.
Hurricanes finish the job
Kiel extended the lead in the third quarter when Maximilian Lundahl finished a short-field possession with a five-yard touchdown run. The extra point was unsuccessful, leaving the Hurricanes ahead 27-3.
Fields finally broke through for Berlin late in the period. The dual-threat quarterback repeatedly escaped the pocket on the Rebels’ best drive of the afternoon and capped it with a 12-yard touchdown run. Cain’s extra point cut the deficit to 27-10, but Berlin would get no closer.
Fulford opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a 31-yard field goal, restoring Kiel’s 20-point advantage. On the ensuing kickoff, the Rebels fumbled the return and Tion Fortune recovered for the Hurricanes at the Berlin 40-yard line. Kiel immediately converted the mistake into the final points of the day as Settles found Jarvis McClam for a 35-yard touchdown. Fulford’s extra point completed the 37-10 victory.
Complete team effort
The Hurricanes received contributions in every phase. Settles threw three touchdown passes, Harris caught two of them, the rushing attack produced scores from Rotermund and Lundahl, and the defense repeatedly stiffened when Berlin moved into scoring position. Kiel’s special teams also supplied the fourth-quarter field goal and the recovery that set up the closing touchdown.
Photo: Marc Seefeldt
Head coach Timo Zorn called it an absolute team performance and praised the progress made by the offense, defense and special teams. After seven difficult opening games, the Hurricanes finally turned a competitive effort into the kind of decisive result they had been seeking.
Looking ahead
Kiel will next travel to face the Schwabisch Hall Unicorns, the already-crowned GFL South champions. Berlin returns home to take on the unbeaten Dresden Monarchs.
Scoring summary
First quarter
Berlin – Kris Cain 27-yard field goal (0-3)
Second quarter
Kiel – Isaiah Harris 19-yard pass from PJ Settles (Anousheh Fulford kick) (7-3)
Kiel – Isaiah Harris 17-yard pass from PJ Settles (Anousheh Fulford kick) (14-3)
Kiel – Lorenz Rotermund 8-yard run (Anousheh Fulford kick) (21-3)
Third quarter
Kiel – Maximilian Lundahl 5-yard run (kick failed) (27-3)
Berlin – Tyquell Fields 12-yard run (Kris Cain kick) (27-10)
Fourth quarter
Kiel – Anousheh Fulford 31-yard field goal (30-10)
Kiel – Jarvis McClam 35-yard pass from PJ Settles (Anousheh Fulford kick) (37-10)