LIVESTREAM Scandinavian Cup: Carlstad Crusaders @ Eidsvoll 1814s, May 13, 14:00 CET (2 pm, 8 am EDT)

AFI | American Football | 05/13/2023

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

Sweden’s Carlstad Crusaders head to Norway Saturday, May 13 to face the Eidsvoll 1814s in the second round of the Scandinavian Cup.

These two teams faced each other in Karlstad, Sweden two weeks ago in the opening round with the Crusaders coming away with a decisive 26-0 victory.

This is the second year the Scandinavian Cup is being played and four teams are competing for the title. The Carlstad Crusaders and Örebro Black Knights from Sweden and Norway’s Eidsvoll 1814s and Oslo Vikings.

For Eidsvoll to qualify to play in the final on June 3, they would have to defeat the Crusaders by 27 points or more.

Carlstad is coming off a tough 9-6 loss to the Stockholm Mean Machines last week in Swedish Superserien action while this will only be Eidsvoll’s second game of 2023 following that loss two weeks ago.

Carlstad head coach Alex Burdette has his team beginning to jel. Running back Victor Toresson was hard to stop in the first game against the 1814s carrying the ball 13 times for 118 yards. Starting quarterback Dante Vandeven was sharp as well and with a defense that only gave up a total of 54 yards of offense, Carlstad will be a tough opponent. On defense, Canadian linebacker Rory Kelly is a key.

Still, the 1814s, with the only female head coach in Scandinavia, Jenny Widding (who played for the Crusaders women’s team in 2019), could surprise as they are playing at home. Quarterback Wilhelm Arnes Domaas and versatile Michael Anthony Hall run the offense with Hall filling in behind center when needed. The offensive line is anchored by center Rich Queen (UMass).

Two keys to the defense are defensive linemen Sondre Bøyeie and Sverre Baraas-Klungseth.

This will be an uphill battle for the 1814s. If the offense stalls as it did in the first game against Carlstad, it will be long afternoon. Overcoming a 26-0 deficit will be difficult against a Carlstad squad that has shown enormous improvement in the past couple of weeks.