LIVESTREAM: Germany – Game of the Week – Frankfurt Universe @Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, Sunday, Aug. 11, 3p CEDT (9a EDT)

The (11-0) Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, Europe #1, will look to keep their unbeaten streak alive Sunday, August 11, when they play host to the 8-1 Frankfurt Universe, Europe #6, at Optima Sportpark in Schwäbisch Hall as the German Football League winds up its 13th week of play.

The two teams met earlier this year with the Unicorns delivering a 31-0 shutout over Frankfurt. In Germany Bowl XL, Unicorns downed Frankfurt 21-19 in one of the most dramatic German championship games in history, coming from behind to do so.

The Unicorns enter the game on a 45 game winning streak stretching back to the 2016 German Bowl and have looked just as impressive as ever this year. Nevertheless, last week, Schwabisch Hall had all they could handle against the Marburg Mercenaries, finally beating them 42-36. The week before, in their first game following a four week break, they downed the Munich Cowboys 48-14. In the final game before the break, they dumped the Ingolstadt Dukes 51-0 and the week before, they disposed  of the Kirchdorf Wildcats 56-0. They whipped the Stuttgart Scorpions 63-21 after blanking their German Bowl opponents and chief rivals the Frankfurt Universe, Europe #4, 31-0. Prior to that, they overwhelmed the Marburg Mercenaries 52-9, the Ingolstadt Dukes 24-0,  the Munich Cowboys 35-3, Kirchdorf Wildcats 51-12 and Stuttgart Scorpions 63-13.

Unicorns QB Jadrian Clark is the most efficient passer in the GFL with a rating of 188. He has thrown for 2,697 yards and 36 TDs in the 11 wins this year. His top receiver so far has been Tyler Rutenbeck with 37 catches for 930 yards and 17 TDs while Nate Robitaille has 853 yards receiving and 11 TDs. As a team, the Unicorns are averaging 167.9 yards rushing a game, second best in the country with RB Maurice Schuele the top rusher with 522 yards.

Defensively, the Unicorns lead the GFL giving up just 9.8 points a game and are second stingiest in the league in yards allowed with 228.7.

Last week, Frankfurt blanked the Munich Cowboys 46-0 and the week before downed the Kirchdorf Wildcats 38-17 in their first game after the four week break. Just before the break they had whipped the Allgäu Comets 34-7 and the Ingolstadt 63-13, rebounding from an embarrassing 31-0 defeat at the hands of the Unicorns in mid June. Frankfurt had opened the 2019 season with four wins, beating Ingolstadt 37-13, after getting by the Munich Cowboys the week before 24-17. They had downed the Comets 20-0 in their opening game  and then defeated the Marburg Mercenaries 20-14.

For Frankfurt, Steve Cluley has thrown for 1,972 yards and 20 touchdowns with Antony Brooks (647 yds), Sebastian Sagne (390 yds, 9 TDs) and George Robinson (397 yds), as his leading targets. New addition, former Purdue Boilermaker/Philadelphia Eagle Anthony Mahoungou from France, has eight catches for 167 yards and 2 TDs. Running back Justin Rodney now has 448 yards rushing while Oscar Nevermann from Sweden has a total of 325 yards rushing in the nine games.

This game features the two best defenses in the GFL. Schwäbisch Hall has allowed the fewest points  (9.8) with the Universe has given up the second fewest (12.4). On the other hand, Frankfurt has surrendered the fewest yards per game (185.9) while the Unicorns are next best in that category (228.7).

The wild card factor in this game is the sudden departure of Frankfurt head coach Brian Caler. Caler left the team for personal reasons earlier this week and it remains to be seen how the team will respond.

Watch the game live here. Frankfurt Universe @Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, Sunday, Aug. 11, 3p CEDT (9a EDT)

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