Top of the League

Well, after a 6 hour drive through Bavaria and across Austria to the Slovenian Border, we made it safely to Klagenfurt for our season opener.

The game started out sound, the first play I took a chance thinking they may run play action to start the season. They didn't, but the stunt shutdown the off-tackle power play that they had run. Apparently they were going to try and out tough our 3/4 American Import DLine. Our team speed and size on the DL makes us pretty formidable against the run. The first series was a three & out & just about the exact way I'd like to start the season. Carl & the offense took over and marched down the field with little resistance and we were up 7-0.

The rest of the game (outside of two defensive plays) went according to plan. Carl went on to throw for FIVE touchdowns, a career high.

Here's what our website reported of the game:
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HOHENEMS ATOP THE STANDINGS AFTER OPENING WIN!

A successful AFL prelude for Hohenems. The Cineplexx Blue Devils made their case to become generally accepted as a contender on Saturday against the Carinthian Black Lions. This statement was made clearly with 40-7 final score. The Cineplexx Blue Devils step into week 2 (at least until next Saturday) in the unusual position of the front runner.

Play began as planned. The first attack of the Carinthians was immediately stopped, no individual chance to ford a first down was allowed. The Defense showed a very good start, Charles Drake continued the effort on Special Teams with several excellent returns.

The attack formation of the Blue Devils, led by QB Carl Bonnell, could not be threatened by the Black Lions defense. Early in the First Quarter Fullback of Oliver Froehlich scored from short distance to begin the onslaught of scoring. In this manner it continued, the Black Lions could do simply very little against the Devils set. Most successful participant on sides of the Blue Devils was Christian Steffani who has already harmonized well with new QB Bonnell; they combined for four touchdowns.

The troop of Head Coach Mike Kegel began the season with a solid win with many positive beginnings to show. The Blue Devils will have to, however, prove their stance atop the league next saturday with a tough matchup with the Danube Dragons. "Physically, the Dragons bring a tough test and higher calibre of play."
-www.blue-devils.at

SCHWEINSTEIGER
As we made our way back to Hohenems in the wee hours of the morning, just outside of Memmingen, there were four wild boars crossing the Autobahn. The van driven by Stefan Schubert (we were two vans behind) did not have time to react and at about 140km/h (almost 90mph) he slammed into two of the wild boars. They were huge! One put a dent, about a foot deep, in the solid metal frame of the van. Everyone is okay (outside of the boars), but the van has seen better days. That made for a very exciting final hour of the day. As we arrived back in Hohenems, it was 6am and the sun was rising.

Another long, but very productive, day in the books.

& one guarantee for the year, we will not finish any worse than 1-7! :)

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AROUND THE AFL
Cineplexx Blue Devils Hohenems 40:7 @ Carinthian Black Lions
@ Swarco Raiders Tirol 34:12 Danube Dragons
Turek Graz Giants 33:20 @ Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna

AFL STANDINGS
Team GP W L PF PA PCT
1 Cineplexx Blue Devils 1 1 0 40 07 1.000
2 Swarco Raiders Tirol 1 1 0 34 12 1.000
3 Turek Graz Giants 1 1 0 33 20 1.000
4 Raiffeisen Vikings 1 0 1 20 33 0.000
5 Danube Dragons 1 0 1 12 34 0.000
6 Carinthian Black Lions 1 0 1 07 40 0.000

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SCORING SUMMARY

FIRST QUARTER (7:0)
DEVILS TD 2yd run Oliver Froehlich (PAT Michael Kellenberger)

SECOND QUARTER (21:7)
DEVILS TD Pass Carl Bonnell to Christian Steffani (PAT Kellenberger)
DEVILS TD 62yd pass Bonnell to Steffani (PAT Kellenberger)
LIONS TD 3yd run Gregory Jones (PAT good)

THIRD QUARTER (34:7)
DEVILS TD 17yd pass Bonnell to Robin Haas (PAT blocked)
DEVILS TD 60yd pass Bonnell to Steffani (PAT Kellenberger)

FOURTH QUARTER (40:7)
DEVILS TD 17yd pass Bonnell to Steffani (PAT blocked)