LIVESTREAM Austria: Danube Dragons @ Prague Black Panthers, June 5, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 09:00 am ET)
The game of the week in the Austrian Football League features the top two teams in the league as the undefeated Danube Dragons (6-0) travel to Prague to take on the Prague Black Panthers (5-1).
The Dragons are looking to keep their undefeated season alive, while the Black Panthers seek to knock them off and move into a tie with Danube for first place in the league.
Each team is coming off a close win on the road. The Dragons took down the Telfs Patriots in a come-from-behind victory, 28-24, while the Black Panthers defeated the Swarco Raiders by a score of 28-21. Over the course of the season, each team has built an identity through stout defense, as they are the top two defenses in the league in terms of points allowed. Prague’s defense has yielded an average of just 14.8 points per game, while Danube is right behind them with 16.2 points conceded per game. Additionally, both teams have offenses that feature a stable balance between the passing and running games.
Danube Dragons @ Prague Black Panthers, June 5, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 09:00 am ET)
These teams are fairly evenly matched, which means this battle should be highly competitive and exciting.
Danube quarterback Chad Jeffries played his college ball at Azusa Pacific University in California. In six games this season, Jeffries has thrown for 1,437 yards and 17 touchdowns while giving up just four interceptions. Camron Lewis is Jeffries’ top target, as his 612 receiving yards rank first on the team and third in the league. Lewis has also caught eight touchdown passes, good enough for second place in the league. The Dragons use a multi-back system in the ground game, as four different players have rushed for at least 100 yards (including Jeffries himself), though the team leader, Leon Steiner, has just 208 yards in six games.
Black Panthers’ quarterback Javarian Smith (Lake Erie College, Michigan), in his first year with the team has thrown for 1,137 yards and 12 touchdowns through six games. Remarkably, he has not thrown an interception to date, an impressive feat for any player in his first year in a new offense. In addition, Smith is a potent threat on the ground, using his legs on designed run plays and scrambling when the pocket breaks down. He leads the team with 334 rushing yards, and his seven rushing touchdowns rank second in the league among all players. Smith likes to spread the ball around to his receivers, as five different Black Panthers have at least 150 receiving yards and a touchdown. Canadian receiver Ben Von Jagow leads the team in catches (30), yards (316), and touchdowns (4).
If the Dragons want to remain undefeated, they will have to put together a solid game plan designed to limit Smith’s explosiveness, while Prague must focus on stopping the Jeffries-Lewis
connection. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how these top defenses perform against great challenges, and we should be in store for a great game.
Watch the game live here. Danube Dragons @ Prague Black Panthers, June 5, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 09:00 am ET)
