The Kristiansand Gladiators (1-0) head to Oslo Saturday, May 11, to face the reigning Norwegian champion Oslo Vikings in an interesting early season matchup in the Norwegian League of American Football.
The Vikings are coming off a 46-0 blanking of the Sarpsborg Olavs Menn. Meanwhile, Kristiansand handed the Olavs Menn a similar defeat, beating them 37-6.
With head coach Derek Mann still on the sideline and championship winning quarterback Robert Mehmet still behind center, Oslo look poised to four peat in 2019. The running back duo of Vegard Tysse and Jesper Jørgensen powers the offense while linebacker Kim Schanning anchors what has been the best defense in Norway for the past two years.
The Gladiators are returning to the top league after a four year absence. Kristiansand won the Norwegian title in 2014 and then inexplicably folded a couple of months before the start of the 2015 season. They return this season with Swedish head coach Leo Bilgren. He brought in young Swedish national team quarterback Dennis Isberg and added at running back Ståle Skjævestad. The key to the defense is middle linebacker Mathias Bue.
These two teams seem evenly matched although the Vikings veteran roster could make a difference.
Watch the game live here. Kristiansand Gladiators @Oslo Vikings, Sat. May 11, 2p CEDT (8a EDT)
