The Munich Cowboys (6-5) survived a furious second-half comeback by the Straubing Spiders (0-11) Saturday, pulling away late for a 30-23 win at the Spiderdome in Straubing to secure a spot in the German Football League playoffs.
Straubing lets early chances slip away
The Spiders gave themselves opportunities right from the opening kick, recovering an onside kick through Kristof Komiszar. Jordan-Xavier Pouncey later returned a punt into Munich territory, and Luca Aigner picked off Nicholas Semptimphelter, but Straubing couldn’t turn any of those chances into points.
The Cowboys eventually broke through behind Maximilian Mittasch, who drilled field goals from 31 and 47 yards for a 6-0 lead.
Munich then struck just before halftime. Semptimphelter connected with Sebastian Reiner for a 33-yard touchdown before Mittasch added a 32-yard field goal, sending the Cowboys into the locker room up 16-0.
Spiders storm back
The game flipped quickly after halftime.
Taking over at the Munich 49 following a mistake in the Cowboys punt game, Raleigh Yeldell needed only three plays to get Straubing into the end zone, finding Pouncey for a 29-yard touchdown. J’vonte Davis powered in the two-point conversion to cut the lead to 16-8.
Yeldell then hit Eloi Soler for 34 yards to push the Spiders deep into Munich territory. Davis finished the drive by running 16 yards into the end zone, and Yeldell added the two-point conversion himself to tie the game 16-16.
Munich lands the knockout blow
The Cowboys answered with a 12-play, 78-yard drive, and Semptimphelter found Reiner for a 27-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to regain a 23-16 lead.
Straubing had a golden opportunity after Pascal Sendelbach intercepted Semptimphelter and returned it 41 yards to the Munich 22, but the Spiders came away empty.
One play later, Semptimphelter connected with Emre Gökce for an 84-yard touchdown, stretching the lead to 30-16.
Davis scored his second rushing touchdown with a minute remaining and Komiszar added the extra point, but Straubing could get no closer.
Cowboys secure playoff spot
Semptimphelter finished with 336 yards and three touchdowns through the air, while Reiner caught eight passes for 103 yards and two scores. Soler led Straubing with seven catches for 101 yards, while Yeldell completed 18 of 32 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown.
The win sends the Cowboys into the playoffs, while the Spiders will head to Düsseldorf for their regular-season finale against the Düsseldorf Panther still searching for their first victory.