LIVESTREAM Germany: Ravensburg Razorbacks @ Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, June 4, 18:30 CET (6:30 pm, 12:30 pm ET)
The German Football League is back after more than 601 days! The 2019 runner up Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns will host the recently promoted Ravensburg Razorbacks under the lights to kick off the GFL’s highly anticipated return.
The Unicorns go into 2021 under fifth year head coach Jordan Neuman. Neuman’s defense brings back Unicorn veterans in linebacker Nick Alfieri and defensive lineman Devin Benton. In the secondary, safety Cody Pastorino returns to command the back end of the defense. Some new faces on for the Unicorns defense will be pass rusher Corey Chapman and defensive back Monteze Lattimore.
Offensively, coach Neuman has built the team around a homegrown quarterback surrounding him with foreign and domestic talent. In doing so, Neuman is going back to the same formula that won back-to-back German Bowl titles in 2017 & 2018 with German signal caller Marco Ehrenfried. This year, the new German quarterback will be former national team passer and Saarland Hurricane Alexander Haupert. Haupert will have a host of new Unicorns’ receivers at his disposal including former NFL receiver Moritz Böhringer. Böhringer was the first German drafted straight from Europe into the NFL in 2016 and spent four seasons with the Vikings and Bengals. Unicorns veteran Tyler Rutenbeck will also be a great deep threat for Haupert, along with new Austrian receiver Yannick Mayr. Joining Haupert in the backfield will be former XFL and North Dakota State (NCAA D1 FCS) running back John Santiago.
Ravensburg Razorbacks @ Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, June 4, 18:30 CET (6:30 pm, 12:30 pm ET)
Haupert commented on the offense’s current chemistry:
“The offense is doing a really good job so far. I think we moved the ball pretty well in our pre-season game against the Fursty Razorbacks. Right now, we need to work on some details, especially for me, to get a good timing in with the receivers.”
Ravensburg heads into 2021 after a dominant season winning the GFl2 and earning a promotion to Germany’s top league in 2019. New head coach Sebastian Fandert has brought in a host of European talent to mesh with his experienced core of Ravensburg based players.
Some key returning defenders for the Razorbacks are defensive back Noah Rubbert, linebacker Elias Eisele, and defensive lineman Lucas Walk. New talent joining the defensive unit will be French edge defender Stanley Zeregbe, American linebacker Jeremy Conley, and Swiss national team linebacker Fabio Rothmund.
On offense, Ravensburg has brought in new offensive coordinator Augie Stevens. Stevens has a host of weapons to play with as quarterbacks Ryan Deal and Alexander Knronborg Bjerre have both had success at different levels of football in Europe. Running back Lennies Mcferren brings toughness and strength to a Razorbacks offense that returns experienced offensive lineman Sebastian Trabold and Marc Piduch. In the passing game fans should look for former Green Bay Packers tight end Ryan Smith and veteran receiver Michael Mayer to be focal points of the offense.
Ravensburg OC Augie Stevens on the Razorbacks mentality heading into the 2021 GFL season:
“Headed into the GFL1 our team couldn’t be more excited. Anytime you’re fresh off promotion there is a target on your back. We’re eager to prove that we not only belong in the top division but are here to compete to win games we’re not expected to.’
Friday night under the lights is how the German Football League will return to play. This game should be a great first look into what should be an excellent season of football in Germany’s top league.
Watch the game live on Germany’s Sport1. Kickoff is 18:30 CET (6:30 pm, 12:30 pm ET).
The game is only available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
