The Nordic Storm (9-1) and Munich Ravens (9-1) meet Saturday at Tivoli Stadion Tirol with the first European Football Alliance championship on the line after finishing first and second in the inaugural regular season and powering through the BIG4 Weekend.
It is a fitting finish. The Storm and Ravens split their two regular-season meetings, produced two of the league’s most explosive offenses and now get one final shot at each other with the championship at stake.
Clark and Tabor take center stage
The quarterback matchup brings together two of the league’s most productive passers.
Jadrian Clark threw for 3,730 yards and 47 touchdowns against seven interceptions during the regular season, completing 71.1 percent of his passes. He kept rolling in the semifinal, throwing for 348 yards and five touchdowns to send Nordic into the title game.
Russell Tabor finished his nine regular-season appearances with 2,335 yards, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 71.8 percent of his throws. Against the Frankfurt Galaxy in the semifinal, Tabor threw for 360 yards and two touchdowns and ran for three more scores in Munich’s 52-33 victory.
Watch live. EFA Championship Game: Munich Ravens vs Nordic Storm, Aug. 29, 18:00 CET (6 pm, 12 noon ET)
Storm bring weapons everywhere
Clark operates an offense loaded with the league’s top playmakers.
Glen Toonga led the EFA with 1,061 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, while Brendan Beaulieu topped all receivers with 1,555 yards and 19 scores. Beaulieu added 141 yards and a touchdown in the semifinal.
The Storm can also attack opposing quarterbacks. David Tawake and Lucky Ogbevoen recorded seven sacks apiece during the regular season, while Ludvig Myrén and Hugo Dyrendahl each had four.
Ravens can attack several ways
The Ravens counter with an offense capable of shifting gears. Benedikt Pohler rushed for 470 yards and Justus Seelig added 411, while Louis Geyer led the receiving corps with 590 yards and six touchdowns.
Geyer then erupted for 12 catches and 204 yards against Frankfurt, while Munich showed its versatility by scoring five rushing touchdowns.
Third meeting decides everything
The teams have already traded wins. Munich handed the Storm their only regular-season defeat, 37-34, in Week 7.
Nordic answered with a 55-7 win in Week 13, although Tabor did not play and the Ravens rested numerous starters with their postseason position already established.
That leaves Saturday as the real decider.
The regular-season numbers are finished. The previous meetings are history. At Tivoli Stadion Tirol, the Storm and Ravens get four quarters to decide which team becomes the first champion in EFA history.