The unbeaten Stockholm Mean Machines (4-0) head to Örebro, Sweden Saturday, June 1 to take on the 1-4 Orebro Black Knights as the Swedish Superserien heads into the final two weeks of play.
This is the second meeting between the two teams this season Stockholm won the first game 23-7.
For Örebro, this game is important after losing four straight following the 21-7 win over the Uppsala 86ers in the opening game of the year. They were shocked by the Carlstad Crusaders 46-0 and then were beaten 23-7 by Stockholm and 27-13 in the return game against Carlstad. Last week, Örebro dropped a 25-6 decision to the Uppsala 86ers.
Örebro quarterback Johnny Knox suffered an undisclosed injury in the first half of the loss to the Crusaders did not play in the loss to Uppsala. He may be doubtful for this game. Young Joel Isacson took his place and last week struggled throwing for just 57 yards. Nevertheless, he may be called upon again today. Jens Biteus will start again at running back with Eric Murphy backing him up
In their four games this season, the Mean Machines first stunned the eight-time champion Carlstad Crusaders 33-13 in the opening game of the Swedish season and then handed the Black Knights a 23-7 loss. They then downed Uppsala twice, 20-0 and 34-7.
The Mean Machines have played and lost two international games as well as they lost a close game to Finland’s Helsinki Roosters 21-19 five weeks ago in Helsinki and then dropped a 28-25 decision to the Copenhagen Towers.
In the wins over Carlstad, Orebro and Uppsala, quarterback Alex Thury has been solid throwing for 894 yards and seven touchdowns. His wide receivers make up maybe the best receiving corps in Sweden. Denny John Omar Fall, Per Lindelöf and Hans Maximilian von Wachsmann (232 yds, 4 TDs) are all dangerous. Also at his disposal is the joker in the mix, Alpha Jalloh. Against the Roosters he had a monster day hauling in 13 passes for 222 yards (of Stockholm’s 242 total) and two touchdowns.