Berlin Thunder Returns to Winning Ways with Dominant Performance
Berlin, July 13, 2026 – After two consecutive defeats, Berlin Thunder has successfully returned to winning form, securing a decisive 49-3 victory against the Firenze Red Lions at their home Cantianstadion. This win improves Berlin’s season record to four victories. The match, which initially started evenly, saw Berlin Thunder take complete control, leaving the Italian visitors with minimal opportunities.
Early Struggles for Firenze Red Lions
The game began with the Red Lions executing a nearly nine-and-a-half-minute drive, reaching Berlin’s nine-yard line and seemingly poised to take an early lead. However, Jacopo Impallomeni’s 27-yard field goal attempt missed its target, marking the first setback in what would prove to be a challenging afternoon for Firenze.
Berlin Capitalizes on Missed Opportunities
Berlin Thunder wasted no time in capitalizing on Firenze’s missed opportunity. Quarterback Jakeb Sullivan orchestrated an impressive 80-yard drive over 13 plays, culminating in a three-yard touchdown pass to Jon Cole, marking the first score of the game. From this point onward, Thunder increasingly asserted their dominance.
Firenze managed to narrow the lead to 7-3 shortly after with a 30-yard field goal from Impallomeni. However, Berlin then took over, with a Red Lions turnover providing Thunder with an excellent field position just before halftime. Sullivan seized this chance, connecting with Niklas Schumm for a 37-yard touchdown pass. A mere 110 seconds later, the duo reconnected for another touchdown, this time from 25 yards out. Instead of a close contest, Berlin entered halftime with a comfortable 21-3 lead.
Thunder Maintains Control in the Second Half
After the break, Berlin Thunder continued to be the superior team. Simon Homadi extended the lead to 28-3 with a run, before Sullivan once again found Schumm for his third touchdown of the day. Following a blocked punt by Berlin’s special teams, Jon Cole’s second touchdown catch of the afternoon effectively sealed the victory. Running back Kai Hunter concluded the scoring with a run into the end zone, bringing the final score to 49-3.
Outstanding Offensive and Defensive Performances
Quarterback Jakeb Sullivan was once again the standout performer for Berlin’s offense. He completed 22 of 32 passes for 268 yards, remained interception-free, and threw five touchdown passes. Niklas Schumm was his favorite target, catching seven passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Jon Cole also impressed with six receptions for 59 yards and two touchdowns.
While the offense was highly efficient, the defense also dominated. Although Firenze accumulated a total of 266 yards and maintained possession for significantly longer than Berlin, they consistently faltered in critical situations. The Red Lions failed to convert any of their four red zone opportunities into touchdowns, committed 15 penalties for 98 yards, and suffered an additional fumble and an interception in the final quarter.
Kosi Onyeka led the Thunder defense with 16 tackles and also contributed a blocked punt, while Kessawn Abraham secured the game-deciding interception. For the Red Lions, new quarterback Harrison Roubidoux showed periods of decent play with 153 passing yards and a completion rate of over 64 percent. Newcomer Keith Coffee II also demonstrated his potential with six catches for 78 yards. However, numerous penalties, turnovers, and a lack of potency in the red zone prevented a closer contest.
Looking Ahead
With this decisive victory, Berlin Thunder gains renewed confidence heading into their home game against the Alpine Rams. Firenze, on the other hand, will travel to Poland to face the Panthers Wroclaw, still searching for their first win of the season.
Source: https://www.football-aktuell.de/cgi-bin/news.pl?artikel=1783973640803512&rubrik=50
