2021 GFL
Once again in 2021, the German Football League was very top-heavy, as both division winners dominated their divisions. The Schwabisch Scorpions went a perfect 10-0 in the South, while the Dresden Monarchs finished at 9-1 in the North. The top four teams in each division qualify for the post-season. In the first round of the playoffs, it was Schwabisch over the New Yorker Lions 38-13, the Potsdam Royals over the Munich Cowboys 36-23, the Dresden Monarchs over the Allgau Comets 50-13, and the Saarland Hurricanes over the Cologne Crocodiles 35-16. In the Semi-Finals, it was Schwabisch over Potsdam 28-18 and Dresden rolling over Saarland 37-0, to set up the match-up for 2021 German Bowl. The 42nd annual German Bowl was originally planned for the 2020 German Football League which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dresden Monarchs beat the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 28–19 for their first ever title, bringing the German championship to a team from the New States of Germany for the first time. Dresden, whose powerful passing offense led by Quarterback K. J. Carta-Samuels had dominated their division jumped out to an early lead of 7–0 (PAT, Finke) with a 14 yard reception by Darrell Stewart, but Hall managed to get within striking distance before the end of the first quarter with a 28 yard pass by German Quarterback Alexander Haupert to long time Hall receiver Tyler Rutenbeck. However, the ensuing point after Touchdown was not good and thus the score remained 7–6 for Dresden. In the second quarter Dresden let several scoring opportunities slip through their fingers – turning the ball over twice in two drives separated by the injury of Alexander Haupert – already entering the game injured – who was hit on a dropback with his attempt to throw away the ball being ruled intentional grounding. Inside their own ten yard line and faced with over twenty yards to go, replacement Quarterback Reilly Hennessey finished the drive with a three and out and Hall's subsequent punt failed to cross Dresden's forty yard line. However, while the last drive had ended on a fumble by Whaley, who fumbled the ball at the 1 while jumping towards the end zone over several tackles, this drive of the Monarchs would end in an interception caught by Monteze Latimore in the Endzone. While Latimore was initially trying for a return, he stopped with the ball barely inside the Endzone after his feet had already left – this resulted in a touchback and Hall's ball at the twenty. Otherwise the result would've been a Safety. Thus profiting from defensive Big Plays, in the ensuing drive the Unicorns scored next with a 10 yard pass of Hennesy to Rutenbeck. However, the decision to go with a Two Point Conversion this time didn't pay off for Hall and the score remained 12–7 at half time. In the second half, Monarchs Kicker Florian Finke hit the ball off-center on the top on the opening kickoff, meaning it didn't travel the requisite ten yards, resulting in Unicorns ball in their opponents' half of the field. Driving down the field, Schwäbisch Hall scored again and seemed to be putting away the game with a twelve point lead (this time the PAT was good) on a 26 yard pass by Hennesy to Yannick Mayr. However, on their first possession of the new half the Monarchs regained old strengths and seemed to shift the momentum in their team's favor as they ate away 6:07 minutes of game time, driving down the field and ultimately scoring on a 12 yard run by Devwah Whaley. A crucial moment had come earlier in that drive when the Monarchs converted fourth and three at the 18 yard line on a short pass to Radim Kalous which the Czech receiver carried exactly to the fifteen yard line requiring the measuring sticks to be brought on the field before Dresden's first down was confirmed. After a blocked punt by Hall, Dresden was limited to a Field Goal this time – a 25 yarder made it 17–19 from the point of view of Dresden. In the fourth quarter Dresden benefited from the field positions their kicking game gave them and took the lead for the first time in this half with a 26 yard chip shot through the uprights by Florian Finke. Hall was showing nerves, having Been shut out since the first drive of the second half. In a "do or die" drive starting at their own three yard line Henesy threw to Rutenbeck who was covered by Dresden's Jonas Gacek – and Gacek came up with the ball. He would've carried it very close to or into the end zone if the referees hadn't accidentally blown the play dead early, but the interception stood. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Monarchs as they were now able to chew another 2:26 off the clock before Carta-Samuels found Radim Kalous on a short pass which Kalous took to the house for a 16 yard touchdown. The ensuing two point conversion (Carta-Samuels pass to Whaley) made it a two score game. Receiving the ball back with 2:31 and down 19–28 Schwäbisch Hall was now in desperation mode. Caught in a Fourth Down with less than a minute left on the game clock and no timeouts remaining, the Unicorns decided to try for a Field Goal but their attempt fell short, turning the ball over one last time and giving Dresden the opportunity to run down the clock.