Switzerland’s Calanda Broncos (Europe # 9) will play host to the number two team in Europe, Austria’s Swarco Raiders in the Xenith CEFL Bowl XIV Saturday, June 8 in Chur, Switzerland.
Calanda downed the Kragujevac Wild Boars from Serbia two weeks ago 37-33 to earn advancement to the championship final. The Broncos had overwhelmed Turkey’s Koc Rams four weeks ago whipping them 55-17 in Istanbul Calanda opened the tournament with a big 27-3 road win over Poland’s Wroclaw Panthers.
The Swiss team is led by QB Conner Manning has thrown 10 touchdown passes in the wins over Kragujevac, Wroclaw and the Rams. His main target has been Lukas Lütscher who has caught five touchdown passes so far. Calanda has a host of other weapons though including running backs Tino Muggwyler, Erik Rageth and Steffen Haenelt . The team sits second in the Swiss National League standings with a 6-1 record.
Swarco is looking to three-peat as CEFL champions and their road to the final has taken them through France’s Thonon Black Panthers who they dominated 41-7. They then manhandled the Milano Seamen from Italy, 50-23.
The Raiders, who lead the Austrian Football League, have an explosive offense. In the win over Thonon they scored four second quarter touchdowns to break the game open. Against Milano, they did the same but in the third quarter. Quarterback Sean Shelton has thrown nine touchdown passes in the two games, three to Patrick Donahue, two each to Adrian Platzgummer and Fabian Abfalter and one each to Sandro Platzgummer and Mario Schneider. Sandro has also scored three touchdowns on the ground and has proven he can explode from anywhere on the field. His backfield teammate, Tobias Bonatti has also scored a rushing touchdown.
In other words, the Raiders offense has weapons galore.
Watch the game live here. Swarco Raiders (Austria) @Calanda Broncos (Switzerland), Sat. June 8, 6p CEDT (12p EDT)
