Porvoon Butchers stun Kuopio Steelers with dramatic late comeback in 43-42 Maple League thriller

The Porvoon Butchers pulled off one of the most dramatic finishes of the Finnish Maple League season this past weekend, scoring twice in the final minutes to rally past the Kuopio Steelers 43-42 in a wild game that featured more than 1,000 yards of offense and wasn’t decided until the final play.

The victory kept the Butchers unbeaten at 3-0, while the Steelers slipped to 2-2 after letting a two-touchdown lead disappear late.

Steelers control the first half

The game lived up to the billing from the opening kickoff, with both offenses finding success against aggressive defenses.

The Steelers built a 21-14 halftime lead behind quarterback Slade Jarman and a huge night from running back Joshua Mack, who returned to Kuopio after playing in the United States. Mack repeatedly stretched the field and finished with 238 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, while Isaak Marshall added two scores.

On the other side, Christian Powell carried much of the load for the Butchers as quarterback Donovan Isom struggled to find his rhythm through the air against a determined Steelers defense.

Momentum shifts after halftime

The second half opened with an instant spark for Porvoon.

Luukas Eerola took the kickoff back for a touchdown, immediately pulling the Butchers even. Just as important proved to be Mikko Seppänen’s successful two-point conversion, a play that loomed larger as the game unfolded.

The offenses continued to trade touchdowns throughout the third quarter before the Steelers appeared to seize control. Mack and the Kuopio offense pushed the lead to 42-28 with just 3:18 remaining, leaving the home crowd expecting the game was all but over.

Butchers steal it at the finish

The Butchers had other ideas.

Isom took over in the closing minutes, leading two quick touchdown drives while also using his legs to make key plays. Between the scoring drives, Porvoon recovered an onside kick when Eerola came up with the loose ball, giving the visitors one last opportunity.

Seppänen caught the game-winning touchdown before Lassi Minkkinen, despite injuring his leg during warmups, calmly converted the extra point to put the Butchers ahead 43-42.

The Steelers still had one final chance, but quarterback Kaapo Viuha intercepted Jarman’s last-second pass to seal an unforgettable comeback.

Although Isom completed just 41 percent of his passes, he was at his best when the game hung in the balance, rushing for two touchdowns and earning game MVP honors. The Butchers defense also came through when it mattered most, while Kuopio was left to wonder how a spectacular offensive performance slipped away.