FWL Bowl XX

Berlin Thunder 23 Ohio Glory 17

(Play by Play)

Ohio             7  3  7  0 -- 17
Berlin           7  7  6  3 -- 23

First Quarter
Berlin - Cobourne 11 run (Rheem kick), 8:31
Ohio - Payton 7 pass from Navarre (Akers kick), 12:32

Second Quarter
Berlin - Wallace 1 run (Rheem kick), 6:14
Ohio - Akers 42 FG, 14:34

Third Quarter
Ohio - McIntyre 12 pass from Navarre (Akers kick), 3:49
Berlin - Lewis 7 pass from Rowe (2-Point conversion failed), 14:23

Fourth Quarter
Berlin - Rheem 36 FG, 13:11

What a year it has been for Berlin ! The Thunder were 3-11 last year, had QB problems and looked like they would have another losing record. This year they started 0-2 then 2-3 but the turning point was an amazing 41-40 win over two time champions Amsterdam. Berlin then went 7-1 after that and won the top seed in the EFC.

QB Nate Hybl actually started the season but after a poor first game the Thunder went back to Jeff Rowe and once Rowe got into his stride the Thunder were on fire. They even lost star HB Avon Cobourne to injury for a month, his fill in Damien Anderson played well in the playoffs but Cobourne came back to start in the final and played very well.

The Glory had a great season and managed to get to the FWL Bowl by surprising Montreal in the AFC Championship game. The game started off well with both teams scoring a touchdown in the 1Q, Berlin went ahead in the second with a touchdown before Ohio added a late FG to make the halftime score 14-10.

Ohio were first to score in the 3Q, taking the lead on a touchdown strike to Jeff McIntyre. However with 6 minutes left in the 3Q Jarrett Payton fumbled and Berlin recovered. It was a huge play as later on the drive Jeff Rowe hit Derrick Lewis for the touchdown to put Berlin back in the lead 20-17. The Berlin defense were all over Jarrett Payton and limited him to 24 yards rushing.

A tense 4Q was full of punts until Berlin went downfield for a FG to give them a slight cushion, 23-17. But back came Ohio and on a crucial 4th down they completed a 17 yard pass to take them to Berlins 35 yard line with 1:06 left in the game. It looked like a late comeback but on the next play John Navarre was intercepted at the 17 yard line and CB Nick Sanchez returned the pick 30 yards and Berlin ran out most of the clock.

The win capped a superb season for GM Andreas Born who had won the FWL Bowl before with the legendary Pat Barnes. Two years ago Berlin reached the EFC Game but then collasped to a terrible 3-11 record last year. Instead of panicking Born made some key moves and the team started winning again. At 2-3 they could have fallen apart but instead beat the 4-1 Amsterdam Admirals (Who were reigning two time champs) 41-40 and then went on their great winning streak.

For Ohio it was a tough loss but the players and management were happy to get to the final after being disappointed by earlier playoff defeats the last few years. Jarrett Payton who has been hot/cold all year long should be back to his best next year and Ohio who also lost their starting QB for 5 games should pose another challenge.

Congrats to Andreas Born on a superb FWL Bowl win !

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