Semifinaldags i EFL 


Flash aim to become the first French Eurobowl champion

In the 26 year history of the Eurobowl, the trophy has never gone to a
French team. La Courneuve Flash are aiming to change that with their strong
campaign this season. The Flash host Graz Giants in the EFL semifinal this
Saturday. 

Flash have already sealed their place in the French final, where they aim to
make it five championships in the row. They went 9-1 in the regular season,
and clash against the EFAF Cup finalists, Thonon Black Panthers in the
French final next week.

"We are right where we wanted to be.In the French final and an
opportunity to play in the Eurobowl final. The key at this stage is to play
mistake free because the opponents in big games are to good to make mistakes
in key situations", says Flash head coach Patrick Esumé.

The Flash also are in a big role outside the lines of a football field in
the La Courneuve area.

"The main objective here in La Courneuve is giving young kids and young
men an opportunity to structure their lifes on and off the field.
Football can be helpful to somebody that is in the need of a family
substitute and or who is trying to set some goals in his life.
The Flash helps in all regards. Sport,private and job.
That's why we consider ourself more as a family than a club".

The Flash have played in the Eurobowl twice, losing to Hamburg Blue Devils
in 1998 and to Vienna Vikings in 2006. In the group phase of this year's EFL
they beat Berlin Adler and Moscow Patriots. In the quarterfinals they
knocked off the powerhouse team of the decade, the Vienna Vikings by the
score 14-3.

In the quarterfinal they spread the ball in their running offense with
Laurent Marceline getting 17 carries for 71 yards and Jermaine Allen going
12 for 60. Marceline was the second leading rusher in the French regular
season with 676 yards. Quarterback Jeffrey Welsh was 14/21 for 172 yards and
1 touchdown and 1 interception versus the Vikings.

As for the Flash's semifinal opponents, the Graz Giants, this Saturday makes
a second opportunity in two years to make it to European club football's
biggest stage. Last year they were beaten by the eventual champions Tirol
Raiders 56-49 in a wild semifinal game. To make it to the semifinal they
beat Elancourt Templiers 20-6 in the quarterfinals. The Giants are the
defending Austrian champions and three time EFAF Cup winners, but have never
played in the Eurobowl.

In the Austrian league AFL, the Giants were number two in the regular season
with a record of 5-3. They are waiting for a semifinal opponent from the
wildcard round.

In the AFL they had the number one rushing offense, with quarterback Chris
Gunn providing yards both on the ground an through the air. He was third in
passing yards in the league with 15 touchdowns and only three interceptions.
Mohamed Mohaize was second in the league in all-purpose yards, scoring 11
touchdowns. Christoph Schreiner led the league in tackles.

Flash de la Courneuve

FRENCH NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005,2006, 2007,2008
FEDCUP CHAMPIONS 1997
EUROBOWL VICE CHAMPIONS 1998, 2006

Turek Graz Giants

Austrian Bowl Champions: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997,
1998, 2008
EFL: Semifinalist 2008, Quarterfinalist1996, 1998
Federation Cup: Finalist 1998
EFAF-CUP: Champions 2002, 2006, 2007

Tirol Raiders go for repeat

The defending EFL champions, the Swarco Raiders Tirol take their high octane
offense against the Finnish champions Porvoo Butchers in the semifinal on
Saturday. 

The Raiders aim to repeat their championship from last year, and also
continue the five year winning streak of Austrian teams in the Eurobowl. The
Butchers have reached the EFL semifinals for the first time, and try to
become the first Finnish team since 1988 to reach the biggest stage of
European club football. The first two Eurobowls were won by Finnish teams
(TAFT Vantaa in 1986 and Helsinki Roosters in 1988), but Finnish clubs have
not played in the final since. 

Having won both group games and their quarterfinal against the Seinäjoki
Crocodiles, the Butchers now face the challenge of slowing down the maybe
most powerful offense in the continent. The Raiders have been scoring in big
numbers in both the AFL and the EFL. In the quarterfinal they crushed the
Braunschweig Lions 35-7. The offense is led by the number one passer in the
AFL, Jason Johnson. He does not have a favourite target, but rather spreads
the ball around, mainly to Matt Epperson, Jakob Dieplinger and Andreas
Propeller. In ten AFL regular season games, Johnson threw 29 touchdowns and
only two interceptions.

"Our Offensive Staff does a great job with preparation and along with a
very smart QB they make it look pretty easy. The work ethic on our team is
very good and the offense is always prepared, which in turn makes our
defense pretty good also," says Raiders head coach Santos Carrillo.

In Austria, the regular season champs are now waiting for a semifinal
opponent from the wildcard round.

"We just take one week and one game at a time. We can't lose our focus
from the job at hand and that is the Butchers. I also try to let my guys
relax every chance I get. It's a long season and we don't have a lot of
players so they really need it and deserve it."

The Butchers are the winners of the Finnish championship from the past four
years. In Finland, they've played tweo games of the Maple League, and won
them both. The offense is lead by quarterback Cedric Johnson, who is a
threat both on the groung and in the air. The roster includes two players
who participated in the NFL International player development program,
lineman Seppo Evwaraye and lineman/tight end Iiro Luoto. Both also played in
NFL Europe. evwaraye also was the starting offensive lineman for the
University of Nebraska.

"The Raiders have no weaknesses. There is a lot of good players, so we can
not try and stop just one player. In the Maple League we have relied a lot
on big plays, but now we have to be patient with our offense", head coach
Sebastian Lind says.