The Warsaw Eagles (0-1) are the host team in the matchup with the Bydgoszcz Archers (0-0) in the Archers first game of the season on Saturday, April 24 as the Polish Football League enters its second weekend of play.
The Eagles may be the host team but the game will be played in Bydgoszcz due to field availability in Warsaw.
Warsaw will be looking to rebound from a 41-3 loss last week to the Tychy Falcons while their counterparts are excited to kick off another exciting season in Bydgoszcz.
The visiting Archers enter 2021 after qualifying for the playoffs in the 2020 shortened season. Bydgoszcz enters the season under head coach Daniel Piechnik who has a solid core of Polish players including returning offensive lineman Jakub Krystecki and defensive lineman Arkadiusz Cieslok who has moved over from the Warsaw Mets. Bydgoszcz has brought in several new faces from their 2020 campaign. At quarterback will be Jake Schimenz who has spent the past four seasons playing in Brazil for the Limeira Tomahawks and Recife Mariners. At 5’10″ and with an improvisational playing style, Schimenz will remind some fans of Doug Flutie. Linebacker Robbie Wallace of Wingate University (NCAA D2) joins the Archers after an all-conference and record setting colligate career. Helping Wallace on defense will be Spaniard Javier Carrasco.
Bydgoszcz Archers @ Warsaw Eagles, April 24, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 10:00 am ET)
Look for the versatile Madrid native to play both ways for the Archers as he is proven running back in his home country.
Carrasco on the Archers intense preparation for week one:
“Our preparation for this season opener has been great. The whole team has been preparing with a strength and conditioning coach on and off the field. We’ve been getting our progress tested every practice through film study. Trust me when I say we are ready for this season.”
Head coach Talib Wise and the Warsaw Eagles are looking for answers after last weeks 41-3 loss. The Eagles pre-season was plagued by COVID restrictions and practice cancellations leaving doubt around when they would kick off the season. One bright spot for the Eagles last week was ball hawking safety Darrian Winston, who had two interceptions and several big tackles.
Quarterback Shazzon Mumphrey and the Eagles offense are aiming to improve on their three point performance last week :
“We are mainly focusing on the mental aspect of the game and the little things. Last week with some simple miscues we found ourself in a 20-0 hole within six minutes, which all could have been avoided. So this week coach Wise has been on us about our discipline. We have a good game plan and I believe we just have to go out and execute. Bydgoszcz will be a tough team, I imagine a really tough defense as well. But if we eliminate some mistakes offensively, execute, and don’t put our defense in bad situations we can compete and win. Our defense was lights out in the beginning. We know how good they are. We just have to put It all together. Defense, offense, special teams, and we will be right where we want to be.”
Look for the Eagles to play much better this week as the team continues to practice together. The Archers have been projected as a dark horse team in the wide open Polish Football League. This game gives us our first glimpse the Archers and also how the Eagles respond to adversity.
Watch the game live here. Bydgoszcz Archers @ Warsaw Eagles, April 24, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 10:00 am ET)
Warsaw Eagles roster (Click to enlarge)
Bydgoszcz Archers roster (Click to enlarge)
