The Pforzheim Wilddogs (8-4) turned turnovers, a blocked punt and two Drequan Harris touchdown runs into a 21-8 win over the Hildesheim Invaders (8-4) in the German Football League quarterfinals, sending the GFL South runners-up into the semifinals.
Playing their first home playoff game in club history in front of more than 1,300 fans at Kramski Arena in Pforzheim, the Wilddogs built a 21-0 halftime lead and then leaned on their defense to shut down a late Hildesheim comeback.
Turnovers set the tone
The ball seemed to belong to nobody early. Willem Vancompernolle intercepted Harris, while the Wilddogs forced fumbles from Joe Ledama and Jeremie Kwanzambi Beni. Bryan Yankson also coughed up the ball for Pforzheim as both defenses controlled a chaotic opening quarter.
The Wilddogs eventually cashed in. Harris kept the ball and ran it into the end zone for the game’s first touchdown, with Matteo Dazzani adding the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
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Conley strikes on special teams
Pforzheim’s defense kept squeezing the Invaders, eventually pinning them near their own goal line. Forced to punt from the two, Hildesheim never got the ball away cleanly. Jeremy Conley burst through, blocked the kick and recovered it in the end zone to stretch the lead to 14-0.
Harris struck again before halftime, finding room on the ground and crossing the goal line for his second touchdown. He would finish as the game’s leading rusher with 101 yards on 23 carries, while completing 12 of 23 passes for 148 yards. AJ Coons was his top target, hauling in five passes for 85 yards, including a 42-yarder.
Invaders finally break through
The Hildesheim defense kept Pforzheim off the scoreboard throughout the second half, but the Invaders struggled to turn those stops into points.
Nelson Hughes III completed 18 of 37 passes for 153 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Joc Crawford led Hildesheim with five catches for 51 yards, while Jeremie Kwanzambi Beni paced the ground game with 30 yards on six carries.
The breakthrough finally came in the fourth quarter. Hughes connected with Hendrick Scharnbacher, who finished with three catches for 41 yards, for the Invaders’ only touchdown. Karon Johnson added the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 21-8.
Wilddogs slam the door
Suddenly Hildesheim had life, but the Pforzheim secondary made sure the comeback went no further. Denis Atilgan picked off Hughes, although a penalty wiped out the return, and Nick Olivier intercepted the Invaders’ final pass to finish it.
The victory sends the Wilddogs to Dresden to face the unbeaten Dresden Monarchs in next Saturday’s semifinal, with a spot in the GFL Bowl on the line.