The 1-0 Dresden Monarchs head to Kiel in northern Germany, Saturday, May 11, to take on the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes in the second weekend of play in the German Football League’s 2019 season.
This is the opening game of the year for the Hurricanes while Dresden celebrated their opening last weekend by beating up on the Dusseldorf Panther, 49-13.
Kiel is starting the new season in an unusual position, looking up. The team missed the playoffs in 2018 for the first time since entering the GFL in 2007. They have changed the coaching staff and appointed an own product in Timo Zorn as their new head coach. . QB Jake Purichia (Indianapolis) will take over an offense that ranked 12th in the 16 team GFL in points and passing yardage.
Dresden look as good in the win over the Panther as they did in 2018. The Monarchs challenged for the North conference title in 2018 and came oh so close, playing Braunschweig to a tie in the final regular season game of the year. They lost a tough semifinal game to the Unicorns. Head coach Ullrich Däuber has signed QB Zack Greenlee (University of Texas at El Paso). Last week against Dusseldorf, Greenlee threw for 376 yards and four touchdowns.
He also brought in Kevonn Mabon (Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans) along with Belgian WR Martin Emos who was one of the top receivers in the GFL last year. Last week, Mabon had a field day against the Panthers hauling in 11 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Däuber has also brought back the team’s leading rusher in British RB Glen Toonga. The Monarchs have reinforced the defensive secondary with DB Omari Williams who was a three year starter at Samford (NCAA Div. I, FCS).
