LIVESTREAM Germany: Kiel Baltic Hurricanes @ New Yorker Lions, May 22, 14:45 CET (2:45 pm, 08:45 am ET)

AFI | American Football | 05/22/2022

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Braunschweig New Yorker Lions launch their 2022 German Football League season at home when they face the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes, Sunday, May 22 at Eintracht-Stadion in Braunschweig.

These two rivals faced each other twice in 2021 with Braunschweig handing the Hurricanes a 49-14 beating in the second matchup after losing the first early in the year, 34-31.

The Lions are coming off a less than stellar season in 2021 with their lowest finish in the GFL since head coach Troy Tomlin took over the reins of the team in 2013. Braunschweig finished with a 5-5 record, good for fourth. They limped into the playoffs and were eliminated by Schwäbisch Hall.

Needless to say, Tomlin enters the season with a new look and attitude. Tomlin signed Jakob Parks (South Dakota NCAA DI FCS) as his new quarterback adding British running back Emmanuel Abedi-Bawa along with Italian talent Tamsir Seck and former Portland State (NCAA D1 FCS) standout Isaiah Woods.

Defensively, the Lions have been bolstered with the signing of defensive back Ahdekeem Brown (Quincy NCAA DII) and linebacker Nigel Alexander (Dartmouth NCAA DI FCS). Tomlin has replaced longtime defensive coordinator Dave Likins, who signed with the Wroclaw Panthers, with veteran coach Jim Ward.

For Kiel, who finished below the Lions in the standings with a 2-8 record, head coach Timo Zorn has brought in Andrew Dion (Rose Hulman NCAA DIII) as his new quarterback who finished his five years at Rose Hulman having thrown for 9,836 yards and 94 touchdowns. Zorn also re-signed the team’s second leading receiver in 2021, Benedikt Englmann, who was also named to the GFL All Star team.

On defense, Zorn signed linebacker Quinlen Dean (Marshall NCAA D1) while re-signing former Div. II All American defensive back CJ Davis.

Expect Braunschweig to come out with guns blazing. Although the season is long, coach Tomlin will no doubt have a statement to make.