Week 6 of the NFL Europe season resulted in the Amsterdam Admirals earning a No. 1 ranking.
The Admirals (5-1-0) are the top team in the league after defeating the Rhein Fire (4-2-0), 30-21, defeating the Fire for the second consecutive week. The Admirals have won five straight and are 3-0 on the road. The Admirals stepped up after halftime, allowing only seven points during the second half, while forcing two turnovers.
Admirals QB Gibran Hamdan completed 14 of 21 attempts for 203 yards and one touchdown. Admiral's running backs Larry Croom and Diamond Ferri each ran for scores. Amsterdam Ryan Killeen converted all three field goal attempts (26, 20 and 31) and all three PAT tries. Green Bay receiver Vince Butler finished second from Amsterdam in receiving yards with 43 on two receptions. Packers Chad Lucas and Tory Humphrey each caught one pass, among 10 Amsterdam receivers with at least one reception.
In the tightest game of the weekend, the Frankfurt Galaxy (4-2-0) defeated the Berlin Thunder (2-3-1), 18-17, in front of 26,812 fans. With Frankfurt trailing 17-15, NFLEL-leading rusher Roger Robinson ran three consecutive times for 33 yards, followed by two more runs by RB Butchie Wallace for a combined 11 yards. Galaxy kicker Dave Kimball then hit a 25-yard field goal with seven seconds left to give his team the lead and eventual win, one of four field goals he made on the day.
The Galaxy rang up 417 yards of total offense, while holding the Thunder to only 195 yards. Robinson, who has a league-best 622 yards rushing on the season despite missing one game, rushed 27 times for 146 yards and one touchdown, Frankfurt's only of the game. Berlin's Lang Campbell connected on 12 of 15 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns, for a passer rating of 143.5.
On Sunday, the Cologne Centurions (2-4-0) beat Hamburg (0-5-1), 20-17, earning their second win of the season, both wins coming against Hamburg. In the fourth quarter, with Cologne clinging to a 13-10 lead, Centurions receiver Jamall Broussard returned a punt 69 yards to set up a 17-yard Fred Russell touchdown run on the next play, giving Cologne a 20-10 lead. Hamburg countered on the next drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass from James Killian to Ricky Bryant. The Sea Devils would regain possession with a chance to win or tie, but the Centurions defense made a pair of big plays toward the end of the game to lock up the win.
Russell led the Centurions with 22 rushes for 79 yards and one touchdown. Cologne receiver Trent Smith had five catches for 60 yards and one score. Hamburg wideout Scott McCready paced all receivers with six receptions for 139 yards and one touchdown.
Packers in NFLEL
S Atari Bigby (Amsterdam Admirals) - With six starts at free safety, leads the team with 37 tackles (23 solo), adding three passes defensed.
WR Vince Butler (Amsterdam Admirals) - As a reserve WR, has made six catches for 85 yards and one rush for 13 yards.
CB Therrian Fontenot (Rhein Fire) - Has started five games at left cornerback and is credited with 13 solo tackles and two interceptions among seven passes defensed...Was dubbed Defensive Player of the Week for Week 2 after a two-interception performance in a 22-0 shutout of Berlin.
TE Tory Humphrey (Amsterdam Admirals) - Has started all six contests at tight end, catching 11 passes for 114 yards and one TD.
WR Chad Lucas (Amsterdam Admirals) - Has started all six games at wide receiver...Leads NFLEL in touchdowns with seven; is second on the team in receptions with 15 for 282 yards...Was awarded Offensive Player of the Week for Week 4 after catching a league-record four touchdowns in a 38-31 victory over the Berlin Thunder; he finished the game with six catches for 120 yards.
DT Jerome Nichols (Frankfurt Galaxy) - In six starts at left defensive tackle, has made 16 tackles (15 solo), including three sacks.
C Pete Traynor (Rhein Fire) - Has started all six games at center.
QB Brian Wrobel (Berlin Thunder) - Serving as backup, has completed 13 of 35 passes for 145 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions, for a passer rating of 36.0...Has ran 11 times for 26 yards and one TD.
Week 6 Results
Amsterdam 30, Rhein 21
Cologne 20, Hamburg 17
Frankfurt 18, Berlin 17
Week 7 TV Schedule (all games on NFL Network)
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Frankfurt at Cologne, 9:00 AM (CT), Live,
Amsterdam at Hamburg, 3:00 PM (CT), Tape delay
Berlin at R>hein, 7:00 PM (CT), Tape delay
Amsterdam Admirals: 5-1-0
Frankfurt Galaxy: 4-2-0
Rhein Fire: 4-2-0
Berlin Thunder: 2-3-1
Cologne Centurions: 2-4-0
Hamburg Sea Devils: 0-5-1
