Thun Tigers vs. Basel Meanmachine

The Brunner Brothers

From left to right we have #22 Jonatan, #44 Johannes, #33 Michael and #99 Kilian. Jonatan played very well today for the U-19 team. Johannes and Michael are the Tiger Senior team's starting outside linebackers while Kilian is the starting middle linebacker. Great band of brothers if you ask me.

Today was the day for our 2012 Swiss American Football League NLB season opener. It was a home game for us against the 1-0 Basel Machine at the Frutigen Sportplatz about 30 minutes outside of downtown Thun.

We left Helvetica at about 8:15 because we still had to get set-up for the 11:00 a.m. scrimmage between the Tiger U-19 squad and their Basel counterparts. It was originally scheduled as a game for the Junior team but Basel had to forfeit due to a lack of players. They brought up some of their U-16 players in order to be able to at least scrimmage.

The scrimmage was better than nothing, but not by much. The Tiger U-19s had there way with Basel.

The Frutigen Sportplatz

It is not quite the regulation 100 yards long.

Our U-19 Center is a Raider fan

Johannes Brunner leading the way

Michael Spring

Mike is widely known as the meanest outside LB in the Swiss Junior leagues.

Recycling bed matresses

U-19s looking good in their uniforms

Last minute U-19 warm-ups

State-of-the-Art Tiger Scoreboard

Martin Schweizer, Tiger DJ/Announcer

Thun Tiger AFC Bratwursts

AWESOME!!!

Last words before the scrimmage

Jonatan Brunner running amok

Basel Meanmachine Seniors warming up

Thun Tiger Seniors getting ready

Pre-game crowd arriving

License Check

In EuroBall this happens before every game. The refs and a coach for the opposing team check to make sure that each player is properly licensed to play by the league and that they match their photo on their license.

It was now GAME TIME!!!

No more pictures for me now but we do have a team photographer and I'll post some of his pictures as soon as I get them.

Basel Meanmachine (1-0)

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Thun Tigers (0-0)

First Quarter:

Thun gets the opening kickoff and finish their drive with a 20 yard TD pass from Rolf Zybach to Nicolas Küng. Niklaus Rhyner kicks the extra point as Thun jumps out to a 7-0 lead.

Basel answers with a 5 yard TD pass and their QB runs in the extra point try to take the lead 8-7.

Thun’s next drive ended with a punt attempt but the snap goes over our punter’s head giving Basel great field position.

Basel is driving as the First Quarter ends with Basel leading 8-7.

Second Quarter:

Basel continues their drive but the Thun defense does a great job with a terrific Goal Line stand.

Thun’s drive stalls and we are forced to punt.

Basel turns the ball over on downs.

Thun hits a 65 yard pass play from Rolf Zybach to Adrian Jüsy that sets up a 3 yards TD run by Roland Andrist. The extra point is no good as it sails wide left with Thun ahead 13-7.

Basel retakes the lead via another 5 yards TD pass on the last play of the First Half. The PAT kick is good. At the Half the score is Basel 15-Thun 13.

Third Quarter:

The Thun kickoff by Niklaus Rhyner goes into the End Zone, Basel ball at the 20 yard line. Patrick Schlauri recovers a Basel fumble on the first play of the half caused by a jarring hit by MLB Kilian Brunner giving Thun great field position.

Tiger QB Rolf Zybach hits Adrian Jüsy with another pass good for 27 yards to set up another Roland Andrist TD run, this time from the 1 yard line. Rhyner’s PAT kick is good. Thun regains the lead 20-15.

Basel gets tackled at the 15 yard line on their Kickoff Return. They drive down the field but again the Tiger defense stops them at the Goal Line.

Thun is driving as the Third Quarter ends with the Tigers ahead 20-15.

Fourth Quarter:

The Tiger’s try to punt but Basel is called for Roughing the Kicker keeping the drive alive until Thun is forced to punt again.

Basel’s QB scores on a 19 yard TD run. The PAT is no good but Basel now leads 21-20.

Basel’s QB intercepts a Thun pass while playing safety.

Basel’s QB throws a 16 yard TD pass and then runs in the 2 point extra point attempt as Basel widens their lead to 29-20.

The Tigers turn the ball over on downs.

The Basel QB scores on a 9 yard TD draw and then connects on a PAT pass for two more points. Basel is now cruising with a lead of 37-20.

The game ends with Thun driving at midfield.

Basel QB C.J. Hopson who played for Bucknell University was the Meanmachine star of the game today. He threw three TD passes, ran for two TDs, complteted a two point PAT pass, ran in 2 two point conversions and intercepted a Tiger pass. He accounted for 36 of Basel's 37 points.

For the Tigers, Rolf Zybach's passing, Adrian Jüsy and Nicolas Küng's receiving plus Roland Andrist's running were all highlights for our offense. I thought that our line blocked well.

Niklaus Rhyner did a good job in his role as kicker and punter.

Defensively, our two Goal Line stands were certainly highlights.

The loss was a big disappointment but there were a lot of positives to build on.

The Thun Tiger future is still very bright!!!

Final Score

Basel (2-0) 37 - Thun (0-1) 20