One has been driving the offense since opening day. The other arrived almost at the finish line.
But when the Dresden Monarchs and Potsdam Royals line up for the 2026 German Bowl, Rocky Lombardi and Bay Harvey will have exactly the same job: deliver a championship.
Lombardi has been the steady hand behind Dresden’s run to the title game. Harvey has been the late-season spark for Potsdam, stepping into the lineup for three of the final four regular season games before guiding the defending champions through two playoff wins.
Lombardi has been built for this run
The Monarchs brought Lombardi to Dresden to win games like this.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound former Michigan State and Northern Illinois quarterback arrived with extensive NCAA Division I experience, a MAC championship and stops with the Cincinnati Bengals and Michigan Panthers on his résumé.
He has backed up that pedigree with production.
Lombardi has completed 185 of 267 passes for 2,614 yards and 27 touchdowns against seven interceptions. He is completing 69 percent of his throws and has repeatedly pushed the ball downfield, with an 84-yard completion his longest of the season.
More importantly, this has been Lombardi’s offense from Day 1. He has had a full season to find its rhythm, learn his receivers and take the Monarchs all the way to the German Bowl.
Harvey hits the ground running
Harvey didn’t have that luxury.
When Xaevier Bullock left Potsdam for Japan’s Elecom Kobe Finies, the Royals needed someone who could walk into a championship race and start producing immediately.
Harvey did exactly that.
In only five appearances, he has completed 86 of 121 passes for 1,350 yards and a staggering 19 touchdowns against just one interception. His 71 percent completion rate and 215 passer rating underline just how quickly he has taken command.
He can hurt defenses on the ground as well, rushing for 87 net yards and a touchdown, including a 60-yard run.
That dual-threat ability was on full display at Johns Hopkins, where Harvey finished with 7,822 passing yards, 81 touchdown passes and another 28 scores on the ground.
Two very different roads
There is no mystery surrounding Lombardi. Dresden has ridden with him all season and knows exactly what it has.
Harvey is the wild card. Five appearances, 19 touchdown passes and one interception is a remarkable introduction to German football.
Lombardi has spent months building toward this moment. Harvey has come crashing into the championship picture in a matter of weeks.
Now there is only one game left — and two quarterbacks capable of deciding it.