The Oslo Vikings will be looking for four-peat when they face the Eidsvoll 1814s, Saturday, July 6 at Frogner Stadion in Oslo in the Norwegian Federation of American Football championship game.
Oslo rolled over the Sarpsborg Olavs Menn 63-14 in last week’s semifinal game while the 1814s delivered the same pounding to the Kristiansand Gladiators, beating them 68-14.
These two teams faced each other once during the regular season with Oslo coming out on top 28-21.
This is the sixth time since 2009 these two teams have faced each other in the championship final. Oslo has won three of the previous five title games, including the last two times, in 2016 and 2017. The 1814s have reached the final every year but one (2018) since 2013. But the last time they raised the trophy was in 2013.
Interview with Oslo head coach Derek Mann.
Oslo head coach Derek Mann has been a part of two of those wins. In 2016, he was offensive coordinator and in 2017 head coach. He has also won the Norwegian championship as a player, in 2012 and as head coach twice, in 2017 and 2018.
The Vikings marched through the season with an impeccable 6-0 record. They finished as the top offense in Norway scoring 246 points in six games (41 pt/game) and the stingiest defense (10 pts/game). n the six game Norwegian regular season, the 1814s have averaged 32 points a game while surrendering an average of 20.5.
Mann will have his troops ready for this game. The offense, with quarterback Robert Mehmet behind center has been unstoppable all year. Mehmet threw 15 touchdown passes in the six game regular season while the running back duo of Vegard Tysse and Jesper Jørgensen rushed for 19 touchdowns. Linebacker Kim Schanning anchors what has been the best defense in Norway for the past three years.
1814s head coach Michael Hall is in his second season leading the team. He also starts at quarterback and linebacker and will be trying to help Eidsvolls capture a Norwegian championship which has eluded the team since 2013. He will also be trying to atone for the embarrassing 51-7 loss the 1814s suffered at the hands of the Vikings in the 2017 final of which he was a part of as starting middle linebacker. He has thrown for 1,867 yards and 23 touchdowns this season and rushed for 520 yards and another five touchdowns.His key target is running back/wide receiver Arne Søgaard who had 29 catches for 615 yards and 10 touchdowns and 280 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on the ground. Other targets include wide receivers Tor Eric Stensjøen and Yaser Hasan.
Interview with Eidsvoll head coach Michael Hall.
Defensively, Hall led the team in tackles with 37 while linebacker Thomas Nordli had 32. Defensive back Sigurd Grov added 24 tackles (21 solo) and two interceptions while defensive end Joacim Eliassen recorded 27 tackles and two sacks.
Although Oslo has a slight edge in this game as they are playing in their home park, the 1814s have improved over the course of the season. Their narrow loss to the Vikings during the season plus the overwhelming way they defeated the Gladiators in the semifinal should give Mann reason to be wary.
Watch the game live here. Norwegian Championship – Oslo Vikings v. Eidsvoll 1814s, Sat. July 6, 2p CEDT (8a EDT)
