LIVESTREAM German Qtrfinal: Munich Cowboys @ Dresden Monarchs, Sept. 12, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 10 am ET)

The undefeated Dresden Monarchs (12-0) put their perfect season on the line Saturday when the GFL North champions host the Munich Cowboys (6-6), the fourth-place finisher from the GFL South, in a German Football League quarterfinal at Heinz Steyer Stadium in Dresden.

The teams have already met once this season, and it wasn’t close. The Monarchs rolled into Munich in July, built a 48-0 advantage and eventually left with a 48-10 victory. Saturday wipes that slate clean, though. One loss now ends the season.

Dresden brings plenty of firepower

The Monarchs swept all 12 regular-season games and have a passing combination that caused problems for defenses throughout the year.

Rocky Lombardi has Montigo Moss to attack defenses through the air, while Tofunmi Lala gives Dresden another weapon out of the backfield. The Monarchs can also turn to Casey Thompson, the former Texas Longhorns and Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback, while Florian Finke gives them another option in the kicking game.

That depth helped Dresden navigate the regular season without a loss and secure home-field advantage for the opening round of the GFL playoffs.

Watch live PPV. Munich Cowboys @ Dresden Monarchs, Sept. 12, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 10 am ET)

Cowboys face questions on offense

The biggest question for Munich is the health of quarterback Nicholas Semptimphelter and receiver Gabriel Boccella.

Semptimphelter completed 65 percent of his 396 passes during the regular season, throwing for 3,125 yards and 30 touchdowns. Boccella caught 66 passes for 1,088 yards and 16 scores.

That’s a major combination for an offense built heavily around the pass. The Cowboys produced 31 receiving touchdowns compared with only four on the ground.

Semptimphelter was injured early when these teams met during the regular season, leaving Munich without its starting quarterback for most of the 48-10 loss.

Cowboys need a different start

Munich enters the postseason looking to rebound from a 59-0 loss to the Potsdam Royals in its regular-season finale. The Cowboys can’t afford another slow start against a Dresden team that buried them quickly in July.

For the Monarchs, the challenge is different. They have beaten every opponent put in front of them, including the Cowboys, but none of those victories carries over into Saturday.

Dresden has spent the season building toward a run at the German Bowl. Munich now gets the first chance to knock the Monarchs off that path.

Watch live PPV. Munich Cowboys @ Dresden Monarchs, Sept. 12, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 10 am ET)