2016 was a spectacular year for the Schwabisch Unicorns, as they finished the regualar season a perfect 14-0.... Unfortunately, they have those nasty things called "Playoffs". As is the case in many Professional Sports leagues, the best team often cruises through the regular season and saves themselves for the playoffs. Such was the case for the New Yorker Lions, who won their 4th consecutive GFL Championshipwith a 31-20 win over the Unicorns in the 2016 GFL Championship Game. The Lions would take the North Divsion with an 11-1-2 record over the second place Dresden Monarchs (10-2-2). Meanwhile in the South Division, the Unicorns would roll to a 14-0 record and a 2-game lead over the second place Frankfurt Universe (12-2). In the first round of the playoffs, it was the Unicorns over the Berlin Rebels 24-14, the Kiel Hurricanes over the Frankfurt Universe 10-3, the Lions over the Allgau Comets 30-6, and the Dresden Monarchs crushing the Saarland Hurricanes 43-7. In the Semi-Finals, it was Lions over the Kiel Hurricanes 38-21, and the Unicorns over the Monarchs 35-26, setting up the match-up for the 2016 German Bowl. The Braunschweig New Yorker Lions captured their 11th German title, and fourth in a row, Saturday in defeating the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 31-20 at Berlin’s Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn Stadium in front of 13,000 spectators. This was a game where the Lions could not simply impose their will on the Unicorns. Despite a huge statistical advantage, Braunschweig did not seal the victory until late in the fourth quarter. New Yorker quarterback Casey Therriault completed 32 of 41 passes for 371 yards and two touchdowns as the Unicorns secondary were stretched thin. The first quarter ended scoreless after Schwäbisch Hall could not capitalize on two huge turnovers, picking off Therriault on their own goal line and then blocking a Jan Hilgenfeldt punt. Braunschweig struck first early in the second quarter with McCants finishing an 80 yard, 14 play drive with a one yard plunge to make it 7-0 for the Lions. The Unicorns responded with an 11 play, 69 yard drive of their own with Rycraw carrying the ball in from four yards out to even the score at 7-7. Therriault began picking apart the Unicorns secondary on the next possession, marching the Lions from their own 19 yard line, capping the drive with a 14 yard scoring pass to Christian Bollman. Again Ehrenfried matched him, engineering an 80 yard drive in five plays handing the ball off to Bilal who scored a 17 yard touchdown to draw the Unicorns even again 14-14. McCants opened the second half scoring on a one yard run pulling Braunschweig ahead 21-14. Then the Lions defense cranked up the intensity, getting a stop and then forcing an Ehrenfried fumble on Schwäbisch Hall’s 14 yard line. Although the Lions offense could only manage a field goal to give them a 24-14 lead, it was crucial at that juncture. The Unicorns responded with a Rauch field goal to close within one touchdown, 24-17, and their defense rose up, containing Therriault and the Lions deep in their own zone and forcing a poor 22 yard punt from Hilgenfeldt. But they could only muster another field goal on the ensuing drive despite reaching the Lions eight yard line, to edge closer 24-20. However, Therriault plunged the dagger deep on the next possession, taking his team on a nine play, 79 yard drive finishing with a five yard touchdown pass to Landi to extend the lead to 31-20, but more importantly, eating up almost four minutes off the clock. Down two scores, Schwäbisch Hall could not get beyond midfield on their next series, and Therriault wisely kept the ball on the ground and took two knees to end the game and win his, and the New Yorker Lions fourth consecutive German Bowl crown.