The Swedish Superserien heads into its second week of action with two more games on tap.
Last week, the Stockholm Mean Machines handed the Carlstad Crusaders an 18-12 defeat in a rematch of the 2019 championship game. Meanwhile, the Örebro Black Knights survived the loss of their starting quarterback to down the visiting Uppsala 86ers 21-7.
This week features a Friday Night Football game with Stockholm on the road to face the Uppsala 86ers. Then on Saturday, the Carlstad Crusaders will play host to the Örebro Black Knights.
Friday, August 28, Stockholm Mean Machines @Uppsala 86ers
The 86ers opened their season with a tough 21-7 loss on the road to the Örebro Black Knights. This Friday, they will be at home to face the defending Swedish champions, the Stockholm Mean Machines. No easy task.
Uppsala, playing without imports this season, mustered just 80 yards in total offense against a Black Knights defense that was swarming all game long. However, the 86ers did take the lead early in the game when quarterback Olle Hesselgren hit Ayden Seo with a 23 yard touchdown pass and with the extra point went up 7-6. One of the bright lights for Uppsala was linebacker Josh Akena who had seven tackles and was a thorn in the side of the Örebro offense all game long. Running back Oscar Nevermann had a tough night rushing for 18 yards.
The Mean Machines defeated the Carlstad Crusaders 18-12 in their season opener, playing at home. Stockholm backup quarterback Jan Weinreich, who was a quarterback for the German Football League’s Cologne Crocodiles in 2019, threw for 152 yards and two touchdowns in the win and his poise and experience showed. Per Lindelöf was the leading receiver with five catches for 52 yards and a touchdown while Edvin Almeida pulled down three for 43 and a score. Stockholm’s third touchdown came when linebacker Leon Littfinski picked off a Ransjö pass and returned it all the way. Mean Machines running back Timmy Goransson led all rushers with 66 yards on the ground.
This could be a long game for Uppsala unless Hesselgren and the offense can get untracked. For Stockholm, with starting quarterback Tim Morovick expected to be back in the lineup, this should be a W, but the 86ers are playing at home.
Saturday, August 29: Örebro Black Knights @Carlstad Crusaders
The Carlstad Crusaders dropped an 18-12 decision to the Stockholm Mean Machines last week without the services of their starting quarterback, Danny Farley, who suffered an injury during practice the week before. His replacement, rookie Alf Ransjö, threw for 128 yards and two touchdowns but was picked off twice, once for a touchdown. The Carlstad defense held the Mean Machines to 227 yards of offense which bodes well facing a Black Knights team that will also be without their starting quarterback, Jake Sisson, who was hurt during the win over Uppsala last week. A couple of players, including receivers Jimmy Palmborg and Dylan Reede, stepped in to fill in at quarterback. It is difficult to say what will happen this week.
The Carlstad linebacking duo of Christian Kuylenstierna and Mattias Eriksson looked sharp last week and will be playing at home. Between them they had 15 tackles (10.5 for Erikssson and 4.5 for Kuylenstierna)
The Crusaders managed just 130 yards of offense against Stockholm and Örebro’s defense could be just as dangerous. Anchored by linebacker Filip Jonsson, defensive lineman Sebastian Nilsson and Josh and Eric Murphy, the Black Knights defense is formidable.
This could be an intriguing matchup. If both teams are without their starting quarterbacks, it could come down to whose backup quarterback can perform best.