The Örebro Black Knights handed the Carlstad Crusaders their first loss of the season, overcoming a fourth-quarter deficit for a dramatic victory despite playing without injured starting quarterback Viktor Ekberg in a thrilling Swedish Superserien showdown.
Fast start from Örebro
The visitors wasted little time making an impact.
Wide receiver Anthony Ratliff-Williams, subbing for the injured Ekberg at quarterback, opened the scoring when he connected with Donovan McConnell for a touchdown pass. Rasmus Brolin added the extra point to give Örebro a 7-0 lead with 7:34 remaining in the first quarter.
The Crusaders responded later in the period as Albin Forsman found the end zone on a two-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jackson Erdmann. Christoffer Helgar converted the extra point to level the score at 7-7.
That is where things stood at the end of the opening quarter.
Offenses trade blows
The second quarter quickly turned into a shootout.
Ratliff-Williams gave Örebro the lead once again with a touchdown run before running back De’Anta Sipp answered for Carlstad to tie the game at 14-14.
Sipp struck again later in the quarter, hauling in a touchdown pass to put the Crusaders in front. The extra point attempt was blocked, leaving the score at 20-14.
With only eight seconds remaining before halftime, Ratliff-Williams found McConnell for their second touchdown connection of the afternoon. Brolin’s extra point gave the Black Knights a narrow 21-20 halftime advantage.
Sipp takes over
The third quarter belonged largely to Sipp.
One of the league’s most dangerous playmakers scored on two rushing touchdowns to push Carlstad ahead 32-21. Both two-point conversion attempts failed, but the home side appeared to have seized control of the game.
The Black Knights refused to fold.
Ratliff-Williams broke loose on a 50 touchdown scamper to cut the deficit to 32-27. Later in the quarter, Martin Jäppinen came up with a key sack on fourth down to keep Örebro within striking distance.
Comeback completed
The final quarter delivered even more drama.
Erdmann found Anton Jansson for a touchdown and Joel Serpälä added the two-point conversion to extend the Crusaders’ lead to 40-27 with just over nine minutes remaining.
Facing a 13-point deficit, Örebro mounted one final charge.
Ratliff-Williams connected with Hjalmar Gertsson for a touchdown to pull the visitors closer before AJ Clair recovered a crucial Carlstad fumble with just over four minutes left.
The game-changing play came with 1:38 remaining. On fourth-and-nine, Ratliff-Williams, finding no open receivers took off and weaved his way to the end zone from 19 yards out to even the score at 40-40. Brolin’s extra point gave Örebro the lead for good.
Jacobe Clement then sealed the victory with a late interception as the Black Knights ran out the clock.
Playing without starting quarterback Viktor Ekberg, Örebro leaned heavily on Ratliff-Williams, who delivered three rushing touchdowns while also throwing touchdown passes to McConnell and Gertsson.
For Carlstad, Sipp was outstanding scoring four touchdowns, three on the ground while Erdman tossed three touchdown passes, one of them to Sipp.
With the win, the Black Knights improve to 6-1 which includes the 1-0 win (which is under appeal) awarded over Tyresö last week. Carlstad remain in first, now also with a 6-1 record, but with a 49-21 win over the Black Knights earlier in the season as the deciding factor.