The Tartu Titans put on a clinic on both sides of the ball, cruising to a decisive 40–6 victory over the Kaunas Dukes to capture the Baltic League title in a performance defined by defensive grit and offensive firepower.
Defense sets the tone early
From the opening drive, the Titans defense made its presence felt, forcing a quick three-and-out that set an aggressive, physical tone. The early momentum led directly to points when Albert Stepanyan recorded a safety midway through the first quarter, putting Tartu up 2–0. The offense quickly capitalized on the following drive, with quarterback Ott Sellis connecting with Markus Nurmik on a 3-yard touchdown pass. Though the two-point conversion failed, the Titans led 8–0 by the end of the opening quarter.
Titans pull away before halftime
Tartu continued to impose its will in the second quarter. Sellis found receiver Konrad Paluch for a 30-yard touchdown, and while another two-point attempt came up short, the lead grew to 14–0. Just before the break, the defense delivered one of the game’s defining moments: Brent England returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown. This time, Sellis scrambled successfully for the two-point conversion, sending the Titans into halftime with a commanding 22–0 advantage.
Offensive line paves the way
A major factor in Tartu’s success all season—and especially in the final—was the immense improvement and dominance of their offensive line. Their excellent protection and physical run-blocking gave Sellis time to operate and created lanes for the ground game, proving to be one of the undeniable keys to victory.
Kaunas answers, but Titans respond emphatically
The Kaunas Dukes showed signs of life early in the third quarter when rookie running back Ugnius Čisler broke through for a 10-yard touchdown run. The two-point attempt failed, leaving the score at 22–6. But any hope of a comeback was short-lived. Tartu answered immediately with an 8-yard scoring run by Sellis, making it 28–6. Before the quarter ended, Paluch hauled in his second touchdown of the day—a 9-yard reception from Sellis—extending the lead to 34–6.
Tartu closes out strong
The Titans put an exclamation point on their victory in the fourth quarter when Orm-Gregori Joost broke loose for a 52-yard touchdown run, bringing the final score to 40–6 after another missed two-point attempt.
Though the Dukes defense forced three turnovers and brought consistent pressure, the Titans’ ability to adapt and execute ultimately made the difference. The win caps a stellar season for Tartu, whose defense shined all year and delivered when it mattered most.