Stuttgart Surge clinch ELF West Division crown with rout of Cologne Centurions
The Stuttgart Surge (9-2) secured their third consecutive ELF West Division title, overwhelming the winless Cologne Centurions (0-11) 44-3 at Südstadion behind a relentless offensive showcase and suffocating defense.
Surge dominate from start to finish
Stuttgart opened with a methodical touchdown drive capped by running back Albert Wiesigstrauch’s 1-yard plunge, setting the tone for a game where they amassed 457 total yards. Kicker Florian Lengauer, replacing rested starter Timo Bronn, converted all six extra points and added a 27-yard field goal. Quarterback Reilly Hennessey (3 TD passes) connected with Louis Geyer and Kai Hunter before exiting, while backup-turned-emergency QB Leonell Fritzen (7/11, 112 yards, 1 TD) extended the lead with a 12-yard strike to Lengauer. Running back Tomiwa Oyewo added 76 rushing yards and a touchdown, exploiting Cologne’s league-worst run defense.
Fritzen shines in emergency QB role
With backup Lars Heidrich injured, wide receiver Leonell Fritzen seamlessly transitioned to quarterback, orchestrating two scoring drives. His 35-yard completion to Daniel Pedro keyed a third-quarter touchdown, while his poise under center allowed Stuttgart to rest starters ahead of their Week 12 clash in Hungary.
Defensive lockdown stifles Centurions
The Surge defense held Cologne to 74 total yards and 1-of-12 third-down conversions. Linebackers Berend Grube and Kenny Floret anchored a unit that registered four sacks, while defensive back Thiago Siebert’s interception halted the Centurions’ lone red-zone threat. Cologne’s offense, led by quarterback Nate Douglas Jr. (9/15, 85 yards), managed only a 24-yard Jens Appelt field goal, drawing ironic cheers from home fans acknowledging their winless campaign.
Playoff-bound Surge eye deeper run
Head coach Jordan Neuman praised his team’s depth: “We showed we have many good players across our roster. Resting starters was crucial with a tough game in Hungary next week.” Stuttgart now prepares for a potential top-seed showdown, while Cologne’s focus shifts to avoiding the first 0-12 season in ELF history.
Centurions’ struggles continue
The Centurions extended their ELF-record losing streak to 17 games, averaging 6.0 points per game this season. Wide receiver Amon-Ra Osborne (6 catches, 63 yards) provided minimal bright spots, but Cologne’s -225 rushing yard deficit (14 yards rushing vs Stuttgart’s 239) underscored systemic issues on both sides of the ball.
Game details
Final score: Stuttgart Surge 44, Cologne Centurions 3
Total yards: Stuttgart 457, Cologne 74
Time of possession: Stuttgart 36:40, Cologne 23:20
Next matchup: Stuttgart @ Fehérvár Enthroners (Week 12); Cologne @ Tirol Raiders (Week 12)
