LIVESTREAM Norway: Eidsvoll 1814s @ Oslo Vikings, Sept. 4, 14:00 CET (2 pm, 08:00 am ET)

AFI | American Football | 09/04/2022

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

In a battle of the undefeateds, the Oslo Vikings (2-0) will play host to the Eidsvoll 1814s (2-0) Sunday, in Oslo as the Norwegian League of American Football heads into the midpoint of the shortened fall season.

The Vikings have yet to be scored on after beating the Kristiansand Gladiators 27-0 and the Vålerenga Trolls 34-0 in the past three weeks. Meanwhile, Eidsvoll beat the Gladiators 34-21 and the Trolls 39-7.

The last time these two teams met was in 2021 when Oslo beat the 1814s twice, 27-15 and 27-7.

The Vikings enter the game with an interesting quarterback situation. In the win over Kristiansand, starting quarterback Jesber Johnsen was out with an injury forcing head coach Derek Mann, the former quarterback for Oslo, to step in. He will be starting today as well. Although he had not played a down in seven years, in that game against the Gladiators, Mann showed no signs of rust in that game completing 19 of 20 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another. Key targets for Oslo include Erik Ford, who returned last week and caught both touchdown passes from Mann, as well as Frederik Fjeldseth and Linn Byrd. Running back Jesper Jørgensen gives Oslo a solid ground game but Vegard Tysse is also a definite threat in the ground game.

Quarterback Viktor Wessberg is the key to the Kristiansand offense. He will target his three key receivers, Marlon Hýlton, Erlend Lien and Nicolas Chapman while running back Lasse Aaberg anchors a solid backfield. Swedish defensive back Damian Caban anchors the secondary along with Joshua Harrell while linebacker Mads Flåt who attended the CFL Combine, is a key in the Gladiators front seven.