Maple Bowl QB showdown: Donovan Isom vs Christopher Fowler

The Porvoon Butchers and Seinäjoki Crocodiles will put two of the Maple League’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks across from each other in Maple Bowl XLVII, with Donovan Isom and Christopher Fowler already having traded blows in two very different meetings this season.

Fowler has produced more yards through the air, while Isom has been more efficient and more productive on the ground. Their head-to-head history, though, suggests the championship could come down to which quarterback makes the final play.

Fowler piles up the yards

Fowler completed 194 of 348 passes for 2,414 yards and 24 touchdowns against five interceptions in 10 regular-season games. He added 328 yards and eight touchdowns on 89 carries.

His biggest moment against the Butchers came in their first meeting at Porvoo Central Field.

After Porvoon raced ahead 14-0, Fowler helped drag the Crocodiles back into the game, throwing four touchdown passes while completing 62 percent of his attempts. Seinäjoki erased a 35-21 second-half deficit and forced overtime before Fowler finished the job himself, running in the winning score for a 41-38 victory.

That ended the Butchers’ nearly two-year unbeaten run.

Isom brings a different problem

Isom completed 131 of 239 passes for 1,863 yards and 24 touchdowns with five interceptions during the regular season. His 7.8 yards per attempt and 149.2 passer rating both topped Fowler.

The 6-foot-4, 260-pound quarterback was even more productive with his legs, rushing for 411 yards and 11 touchdowns on 77 carries.

Isom ran for a touchdown in that overtime loss and again found the end zone when the teams met in Seinäjoki later in the season.

Two meetings tell two stories

The rematch looked nothing like the first game.

This time the Butchers defense bottled up the Crocodiles in a rain-soaked 20-7 victory. Fowler completed 17 of 29 passes for 184 yards and one touchdown, while Porvoon pulled away in the fourth quarter.

Now comes the tiebreaker, with considerably more at stake.

Fowler has already beaten the Butchers with the game in his hands. Isom helped answer with a road victory in the rematch.

Their third meeting will decide which quarterback leaves Helsinki as a Maple Bowl champion.