The 3-5-1 Kirchdorf Wildcats escaped Munich’s Dante Stadion this past weekend with a crucial last second road win over the 2-6 Munich Cowboys, beating them 13-12 and delighting the contingent of 200 fans who traveled from Kirchdorf to cheer on their team.
In a game that was important for either team to have a chance at making the playoffs, the Wildcats found a way to win and keep their playoff hopes alive. The Wildcats are in fifth place in the German Football League South conference, trailing the 5-4 fourth place Allgau Comets.
In a game decided by a single point, both teams learned the importance of special teams. Munich missed two PATs while the Wildcats were good on every kick.
Kirchdorf quarterback Tom Schmidtke threw for 251 yards and a touchdown while receiver Clemens Erlsbacher hauled in 12 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. Baris Dasar kicked two field goals and the PAT.
For Munich, Trenton Miller threw for 148 yards but was sacked five times. Manuel Schimpfhauser scored on a 75 yard interception return while defensive lineman Tom Ellwitz recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown. Munich failed on both extra point attempts.
With both defenses playing excellent football Kirchdorf did not open the scoring until early in the second quarter as Dasar capped a 47 yard drive with a 29 yard field goal.
The score remained 3-0 until the two minute mark of the first half when Schimpfhauser snagged a Schmidtke pass at his own 25 yard line and raced all the way to the end zone, giving Munich a 6-3 halftime lead.
The third quarter saw Kirchdorf reach the Munich seven yard line without being able to cross the goal line and Munich maintained the 6-3 lead going into the fourth. With the Cowboys offense unable to move the ball effectively, Schmidtke engineered a Wildcats drive, capping it with a 26 yard touchdown strike to Erlsbacher. Dasar kicked the extra point and with almost eight minutes left, Kirchdorf took a 10-6 lead.
The Cowboys defense stepped up again on the next Wildcats series as Ellwitz sacked Schmidtke, forcing a fumble and rumbling 25 yards to score putting Munich out in front 12-10.
Neither offense could do anything until the Wildcats took over at the Munich 48 yard line with a minute left in the game.
Trailing by two points, Schmidtke mounted a nine play, 43 yard drive and with four seconds on the clock and the ball on the Cowboys five yard line, Dasar trotted out. He calmly kicked a 22 yard field goal and the Wildcats came away with a key victory.