The Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (5-5) held firm in fourth place in the GFL South, fending off a surging Saarland Hurricanes (3-7) with a 41-39 triple-overtime victory at Saarland’s Hermann Neuberger Stadium. The win denied the Hurricanes a chance to tie Schwäbisch Hall in the standings, as rookie defensive back Michael “Mike” Webb’s electrifying 90-yard kickoff return touchdown and Josh Taylor’s clutch scramble in the conversion shootout sealed the Unicorns’ playoff-critical triumph.
Hurricanes’ early surge falls short
Saarland roared to a 23-6 halftime lead behind quarterback Walter Kuhlenkamp’s pinpoint passing. A 13-yard touchdown run by Benjamin Thompson opened scoring, followed by Kuhlenkamp’s 14-yard strike to Evan Liggett and a 56-yard bomb to Marian Menden. The Unicorns clawed back briefly via Mathis Harang’s 4-yard touchdown run after Niclas Lux’s interception, but squandered opportunities left them trailing by 17 late in the second quarter.
Webb ignites comeback chaos
Trailing 23-6, Schwäbisch Hall’s second-half rally began with Webb’s 90-yard kickoff return touchdown—a franchise record—to cut the deficit to 23-19. Webb then forced a fumble on Saarland’s ensuing drive, recovered by Alex Knight, which Harang converted into a 1-yard go-ahead score. The Hurricanes responded with a methodical 8-minute drive, settling for Janis Kaiser’s 26-yard field goal to force overtime at 26-26.
Overtime endurance test
Both teams traded touchdowns in the first two overtime periods: Kuhlenkamp’s 13-yard scramble and Taylor’s 9-yard run forced double overtime, while Harang’s 22-yard dash and Kuhlenkamp’s 10-yard reply extended the drama. In triple overtime, a botched snap doomed Saarland’s conversion attempt, while Taylor’s 3-yard scramble clinched the Unicorns’ win.
Standings implications
By holding off the Hurricanes, Schwäbisch Hall maintained their fourth-place position in the GFL South, while Saarland remained fifth—a loss that dashed their hopes of climbing into a tie. Unicorns head coach Felix Brenner emphasized resilience: “We showed staying power to erase the deficit and finish strong.” For the Hurricanes, the collapse mirrored their Week 9 loss to the Unicorns, where they also blew a double-digit lead.
Key performances
- Michael Webb: 90-yard kickoff return TD, forced fumble, 6 tackles.
- Mathis Harang: 3 rushing TDs (4, 1, 22 yards), 84 rushing yards.
- Walter Kuhlenkamp: 4 total TDs (3 passing, 1 rushing), 289 passing yards.
Saarland’s playoff hopes now hinge on upsetting the Pforzheim Wilddogs in Week 11, while the Unicorns face the Allgäu Comets, aiming to solidify their postseason bid. With both teams fighting for relevance, this thriller underscored the GFL South’s razor-thin margins.