The Projekt Spielberg Graz Giants open the 2018 season at home at Stadium Eggenberg in Graz, Austria facing the defending champion Dacia Vienna Vikings (1-0) in the Austrian Football League,
The Giants will be facing a formidable opponent. Vienna opened the season last week looking as impressive as they did winning the title in 2017, handing the Traun Steelsharks a 68-14 thrashing.
Graz head coach Martin Kocian is hoping to fare better than the Steelsharks and improve on their 6-4 record in 2017 and humbling early exit from the playoffs in the wild card round in 2017.
In Vienna’s manhandling of the Steelsharks, quarterback Garrett Safron completed 13 of 23 passes for 219 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for 168 (!) yards and another two touchdowns. Wide receiver Bernhard Seikovits had five catches for 68 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Reece Horn had two catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns and Santino Schlimpert hauled in a 19 yard touchdown pass. While running back Islaam Amadu did not score, he added 76 yards rushing for Vienna.
In other words, the Vikings offense looks impressive.
The Giants have shored up their defense with a pair of defensive backs. Breeon Moreno from Western Oregon and Tony Godbolt from North Greenville University will make it difficult to throw against a Giants team that was solid against the run last season.
The last time these two teams faced each other in 2017, the Vikings came out on top 27-7. In 2016, Graz knocked off the Vikings in the Austrian semifinal.
Graz will rely on quarterback Brandon Gorsuch and running back Matthias Kiegerl