American Football – Spartans in a full playoff

Year after year, the Weinviertel Spartans set themselves the goal of making the play-offs. Unlike previous seasons, the distant dream can become an actual scenario this time around. After two straight defeats, the third win of the season finally came against Pannonia Eagles on Saturday. The Bürgenlanders took a 10:0 lead in Mistelbach early on, but the Spartans turned the score to 13:10 in the third quarter and also had the correct answer on an Eagles field goal to make it 13:13 in the final section. Wide receiver Marcus Stommerer reached the end zone and hit the winning home run with a touchdown.

He now poses a very interesting position on the table. There, the Blue Hawks are ahead of the Ebenfurth Mustangs and Spartans, with all three teams posting three wins, with the front runner playing a game less. The Carnuntum Legionaries, who took a 7-0 victory over the Mustangs on Sunday, also take two wins. “It’s more realistic this year, but let’s see,” Spartans head coach George Gangl remains reticent when asked about playing opportunities. But the positive thing for him is: “It’s in our hands.”

Weinviertel will take the first of three “finals” to the Mustangs farm in Ebenfurth on May 27th. “We lost 27-0 at home,” Gangl recalled of the first leg in mid-April, “let’s see if we improve.” At the beginning of June he was still at home against the Legionnaires and in Asperhofen to the Blue Hawks. For the play-offs, you need a place in the top two in Conference B. Gangl prepares for intense weeks: “It’s still going to be a tough job, but we’re going to try everything.”