American Football News - Spiders steal points

Spiders steal points

In the Lower Bavaria Derby of the German Football League, the Kirchdorf Wildcats met the Straubing Spiders last Saturday in the Kirchdorfer In(n) Energie Arena. As expected, it was an extremely exciting game, which the Spiders won by a narrow margin of 21:15 and thus maintained their dominance in the administrative district. The guests benefited from some unexpected gifts that the Wildcats handed out in the first half. In front of 620 spectators, the home team put up a passionate fight, but were once again not rewarded for it.

The game began in the best summer weather with a brilliant start for the Spiders. In the first drive, the guests managed to score a touchdown with a pass from Luis Wittmann to Kamal Cass, who was almost unstoppable that day. Straubing took a 7-0 lead. But the Wildcats struck back in the first quarter: quarterback Armani Edden and Lukas Obermaier in the end zone, and with the extra point from Baris Dasar the score was 7-7. The Wildcats’ defense was able to keep the Spiders in check, so that Kirchdorf regained possession of the ball at the start of the second quarter. But a fateful bad pass from Edden landed in the hands of the Spiders, who did not miss this opportunity. Kamal Cass ran back to give Straubing the lead, and the score was 14-7.

Kirchdorf once again relied on a strong defense, led by Dino Herrera and the outstanding Lukas Wittenberger, and forced the Spiders to punt. But the Wildcats’ offense could not follow up: Another mistake by Edden led to a turnover, which the Spiders took advantage of at the Wildcats’ 5-yard line to increase their lead to 21:7 with a pass from Wittmann to Simon Gendrisch.

The second half, however, belonged to the Wildcats. The motivated team provoked a turnover, and suddenly quarterback Edden was a different man. With precise passes and powerful runs, the Wildcats worked their way to the 1-yard line, where quarterback Tobias Kanter brought the ball over the line behind his strong offensive line. With a successful 2-point conversion by Nick Stadler, the Wildcats reduced the score to 15:21.

In the last quarter, the game became a thriller. The Wildcats’ defense held firm and stopped the Spiders on a decisive fourth down at their own 45-yard line. With just eight minutes left on the clock, the Wildcats launched their final attack. Despite several first downs and a last desperate pass to Michael Stadler, who was forced out of bounds at the 5-yard line, the equalizer was not forthcoming. Straubing took a knee and secured the win in Lower Bavaria. For the Wildcats, it was the next bitter defeat in a season in which they often lost unluckily.

Schlüter – 02.09.2024

#13 QB Armani Edden (Kirchdorf Wildcats)