A touchdown pass from Alexander Thury to Devin Childress nine seconds before the end was decisive. The catch was controversial, especially since it was not clear whether the US player’s foot touched the ground in the field. Before that, the Vikings, who started with substitute playmaker Michael Szabo (18), had the game under control but were never able to pull away decisively after a touchdown run by Kevin Wojta.
In the end, the Dragons celebrated their third title after 2010 and 2022, they also had the upper hand against the Vikings in the final last year. As record champions, the “Vikings” have to wait for their 16th championship, in 2020 they won a “Best of three” final series in the CoV pandemic, and the team, which is celebrating its 40th birthday this year, most recently won an Austrian Bowl in 2017. One floor below, the Vienna Knights won the Silver Bowl XXV against the Amstetten Thunder in the St. Pölten NV Arena with 20:16.
GEPA/Walter Luger
Like a year ago, the Danube Dragons celebrated winning the football championship again this year
The Dragons celebrated their title defense boisterously. “It was difficult to get going offensively. We didn’t have any answers at first, but our defense kept the game open for us. Then we have a minute, and that’s what a quarterback wants. I’m so glad that it worked out with this one move. And we’re champions,” Thury said.
“Interesting referee decisions”
“The Vikings seemed dominant, but the score always spoke a different language,” added the national team playmaker, who will meet Italy with his colleagues in the European Championship semifinals in Innsbruck in a week’s time (live on ORF Sport +). Vikings head coach Ivan Zivko will also be there. For the time being, however, it is important to come to terms with this bitter defeat: “If we count down the time, it’s done. The last drive went against us so much, there were some interesting referee decisions. It is a pity.”
Austrian Football League
Austrian Bowl XXXVIII in St. Pölten:
29.07.
Dragons
Vikings
14:13
Halbfinale:
15.07.
Black Panthers
Vikings
17:27
16.07.
Dragons
Giants
27:23
All Austrian Bowl games
1984
Salzburg Lions
Graz Giants
27:10
1986
Graz Giants
Vienna Vikings
31:12
1987
Graz Giants
Salzburg Lions
20:0
1988
Graz Giants
Vienna Vikings
33:15
1989
Salzburg Lions
Graz Giants
34:0
1990
Graz Giants
Klosterneuburg Mercenaries
59:7
1991
Graz Giants
Vienna Vikings
38:7
1992
Graz Giants
Schwarzenau Rangers
28:13
1993
Feldkirch Dinos
Salzburg Bulls
45:10
1994
Vienna Vikings
Graz Giants
45:23
1995
Graz Giants
Vienna Vikings
26:20
1996
Vienna Vikings
Graz Giants
41:35
1997
Graz Giants
Klosterneuburg Mercenaries
35:14
1998
Graz Giants
Vienna Vikings
43:3
1999
Vienna Vikings
Graz Giants
37:35
2000
Vienna Vikings
Tyrolean Raiders
34:28
2001
Vienna Vikings
Tyrolean Raiders
24:14
2002
Vienna Vikings
Graz Giants
52:21
2003
Vienna Vikings
Graz Giants
56:42
2004
Tyrolean Raiders
Vienna Vikings
28:20
2005
Vienna Vikings
Tyrolean Raiders
43:14
2006
Raiders Tirol
Vienna Vikings
43:19
2007
Vienna Vikings
Graz Giants
42:14
2008
Graz Giants
Raiders Tirol
31:21
2009
Vienna Vikings
Graz Giants
22:19
2010
Danube Dragons
Raiders Tirol
28:21
2011
Raiders Tirol
Vienna Vikings
23:13
2012
Vienna Vikings
Raiders Tirol
48:34
2013
Vienna Vikings
Raiders Tirol
48:31
2014
Vienna Vikings
Raiders Tirol
24:17 n.V.
2015
Raiders Tirol
Vienna Vikings
38:0
2016
Raiders Tirol
Graz Giants
51:7
2017
Vienna Vikings
Raiders Tirol
45:26
2018
Raiders Tirol
Vienna Vikings
51:48
2019
Raiders Tirol
Vienna Vikings
42:34
2020
Vienna Vikings
Graz Giants
3:0 *
2021
Raiders Tirol
Vienna Vikings
35:14
2022
Danube Dragons
Vienna Vikings
51:29
2023
Danube Dragons
Vienna Vikings
14:13
* “Best of five” final series due to coronavirus pandemic
Champion by number of titles: 1st Vienna Vikings 15 (last 2020) 2nd Graz Giants 10 (last 2008) 3rd Raiders Tirol 8 (last 2021) 4th Danube Dragons 3 (last 2023) 5th Salzburg Lions 2 (1984, 1989) 6. Feldkirch Dinos 1 (1993)
2023-07-30 01:11:14
#Football #Dragons #defend #title #drama
