Maple Bowl XLVII: Butchers, Crocodiles meet again with Finnish title on the line
The defending champion Porvoon Butchers and the Seinäjoki Crocodiles meet Saturday at Bolt Arena in Helsinki in Maple Bowl XLVII, with Porvoon chasing another title and Seinäjoki making its fifth straight championship-game appearance.
The matchup could hardly be more familiar. The teams split two regular-season meetings, with the Crocodiles winning 41-38 in overtime in Porvoo before the Butchers answered with a 20-7 victory in Seinäjoki.
Butchers bring plenty of options
The Butchers arrive after demolishing the Helsinki Roosters 63-12 in the semifinals, while the Crocodiles had to grind out a 20-14 road win over the Kuopio Steelers.
Porvoo has averaged 40.3 points per game behind an offense that can attack in several ways. Christian Powell powers the running game, while quarterback Donovan Isom gives defenses another physical runner to deal with.
Photo: Jari Turunen
If Seinäjoki crowds the line to contain them, Isom can turn to Keith Coffey, Micky Kyei and Mikko Seppänen. The Butchers, however, will be without injured receiver Luukas Eerola.
Christopher “CJ” Fowler drives the Crocodiles offense, which has produced more passing yards per game than Porvoo. Maurico Porcha becomes even more important with running back Arttu Blomqvist unavailable.
Crocodiles defense faces its biggest test
The Crocodiles counter with the Maple League’s stingiest defense in terms of yardage, allowing 267.8 yards per game, including only 161 through the air. They have surrendered 22 points per game compared with 24.8 for the Butchers.
Saidou Jallow, Aatu Tuokko, Charles Akanno and Kevin Pointer will be right in the middle of the challenge. Akanno and Pointer need to disrupt the Porvoo front and keep Isom from getting comfortable.
Photo: Jari Turunen
The Butchers can create plenty of trouble themselves. Dal’Mont Gourdine set a Maple League single-season record with 16.5 sacks, while Timi Nuikka led the league with 85.5 tackles — 23 more than Tuokko in second place.
Little things could decide it
With each team already owning a victory over the other, turnovers and special teams could become decisive.
Porvoo averaged 1.4 more takeaways per game than its opponents, while special-teams mistakes have hurt the Crocodiles during the season. Neither side can afford to hand away possessions Saturday.
The Butchers enter as defending champions and regular-season winners, but Seinäjoki has already proved it can beat them.
One more meeting will settle everything.
