Potsdam Royals overcome early deficit, advance past Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns

| American Football | 09/23/2025

The Potsdam Royals continued their recent dominance over the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns, securing a hard-fought 42-25 victory in a GFL quarterfinal to advance and set up a semi-final clash with the Munich Cowboys.

Unicorns strike first in playoff rivalry
The game began in a familiar fashion for this intense playoff rivalry, with the visiting Unicorns delivering the first blow. Their opening drive was a methodical, 16-play masterpiece that consumed nearly the entire first quarter, culminating in a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Taylor to Austin Brock. A successful two-point conversion gave Schwäbisch Hall an early 8-0 lead, putting the defending champions on their heels early.

Spiller’s spectacular response
The Royals’ answer was both immediate and explosive. On their very first offensive play, quarterback Xeaiver Bullock connected with star receiver Milan Spiller on a spectacular 52-yard touchdown pass. The quick strike instantly shifted the momentum, and a successful two-point conversion tied the game. Bullock then capped another drive with a 7-yard rushing touchdown, giving Potsdam a 14-8 lead they would not relinquish. The Unicorns managed a field goal in the second quarter, but the Royals’ offense continued to click. Spiller caught his second touchdown, an 8-yard pass from Kenyatte Allen, and Bullock added another rushing score to give Potsdam a commanding 26-11 halftime advantage.

Sealing the victory
After a defensive stalemate in the third quarter, the Unicorns mounted a comeback attempt, scoring a touchdown early in the fourth to close the gap to 26-17. However, Milan Spiller and the Royals’ offense extinguished any hope of an upset. The receiver put on a clinic, hauling in two more touchdown passes—a 20-yarder from Bullock and an 11-yarder from Allen—to bring his incredible total to four for the day. His 12-catch, 195-yard performance was the defining factor of the game, overwhelming the Unicorns’ defense and sealing the 42-25 victory for Potsdam.

With this win, the Potsdam Royals move one step closer to defending their title. Their potent offensive attack, led by the historic performance of Spiller and the efficient two-quarterback system of Bullock and Allen, proved too much to handle. They now look ahead to a semi-final showdown on the road against the Munich Cowboys.

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