Roosters dominate Giants in one-sided Helsinki showdown
The Helsinki Roosters (6-2) cruised to a 45-14 victory over the East City Giants (1-7) at Myllypuro Stadium on Thursday, cementing their second-place position in the Finnish Maple League with a ruthless first-half performance.
Urjansson’s flawless half sets tone
Quarterback Ambro Urjansson orchestrated a near-perfect opening half, completing his first 10 passes and finishing with 254 yards and four touchdowns before resting in the third quarter. His precision fueled a 31-0 halftime lead, with backup Jerry Silomaa adding 58 yards and a fifth touchdown via a 43-yard strike to Bryce Nunnely. The Roosters’ offense amassed 432 total yards, showcasing depth as reserves saw extended action after halftime.
Pajarinen injury clouds Roosters’ win
The Roosters suffered a potential setback when center Lassi Pajarinen exited with a non-contact leg injury in the first half. His absence could test the team’s offensive line depth, particularly with a critical matchup against the Kuopio Steelers (4-2) looming.
Defensive pressure overwhelms Giants
The Roosters’ defense tallied four sacks, raising their league-leading season total to 29. Okko Outinen, Joni Kotro, and rookie Viljo Lempinen (making his season debut) each recorded one, while a fourth was credited as a team effort. Their relentless pressure limited the Giants to 198 total yards and forced two turnovers.
Giants’ offensive struggles deepen
Missing injured stars Arttu Blomqvist (center) and Daniel Rubinstein (WR, likely out for the season), the Giants’ offense sputtered. Quarterback Rayna Stewart III completed just 35% of his passes (14/40) for 167 yards and two touchdowns, while enduring four sacks to increase his league-worst total to 24. Rookie receivers struggled to fill the void, dropping multiple passes in critical situations.
Late defensive bright spot for Giants
The Giants’ defense showed resilience in the second half, doubling their season sack total with contributions from Felix Salonen (1.5 sacks) and rookie Aapo Vainio (0.5). Salonen also logged a game-high 6.5 tackles, but the unit allowed 7.1 yards per play and failed to force a punt until the fourth quarter.
Standings implications
The Roosters remain in contention for a first-round playoff bye, while the Giants sink deeper into relegation danger. Both teams face pivotal Week 10 matchups: the Roosters host the Steelers, and the Giants travel to face the Tampere Saints (0-8).
