The AFC Vienna Vikings survived a spirited challenge from the Salzburg Ducks to claim a 49-35 victory in a back-and-forth Austrian Football League spectacle at the Ravelin Football Center in Vienna, overcoming multiple deficits and a weather delay to stay unbeaten.
Ducks stun with early fireworks
The league-bottom Ducks (0-4) shocked the hosts with a 20-point first-quarter explosion. Quarterback Ian Gehrke connected with Christian Honig for a 15-yard touchdown, followed by Camron Madden’s 4-yard rushing score. Vienna’s Raylens Boutin answered with a 92-yard kickoff return TD, but Rahsaan Lewis’ 54-yard catch-and-run extended Salzburg’s lead to 20-7. Vikings QB Aaron Ellis rallied late in the quarter, finding Benjamin Spieler for a 38-yard deep-ball TD to cut the deficit to 20-14.
Ellis ignites Vikings’ comeback
Ellis tied the game at 21-21 with a 12-yard strike to Niklas Lechner early in the second quarter, but Salzburg retaliated instantly. Lewis hauled in his second TD – a 22-yard back-shoulder grab – to give the Ducks a 27-21 halftime edge. The shootout continued after the break: Vienna RB Matthias Moser broke free for a 24-yard TD run, and Spieler’s leaping 18-yard catch put the Vikings up 35-27.
Weather delay fails to cool offenses
A 45-minute thunderstorm pause at 42-35 did little to slow the momentum. Ellis threaded a 14-yard TD pass to Spieler (4 catches, 77 yards, 3 TDs) to extend the lead, followed by Kevin Wojta’s 9-yard rushing score to ice the game. The Ducks’ final drive ended with a sack on fourth down, sealing Vienna’s fourth straight win.
Coaches reflect on wild contest
“Our defense slept through the first half,” admitted Vikings coach Benjamin Sobotka. “Raylens [Boutin] and the offense bailed us out – but we can’t keep playing catch-up against top teams.” Ducks coach Joe Ashfield praised his team’s growth: “We outscored them in three quarters. If we clean up red-zone mistakes, we’ll start flipping these results.”
The Vikings (4-0) now prepare for a heavyweight clash against the Danube Dragons, while the Ducks host the Graz Giants seeking their first win. With 84 combined points and seven lead changes, this game reinforced the AFL’s reputation for unpredictable, high-stakes drama.
