Stuttgart Surges to European Title

The Stuttgart Surge won their first European League of American Football (ELF) championship over the Vienna Vikings 24-17 in front of 36,000 fans at MHP Arena in Stuttgart, Germany.

From American Football International:

The Vienna Vikings, determined to avenge their 2024 championship loss, dominated the opening quarter. Quarterback Ben Holmes orchestrated a 10-play drive capped by a 4th-and-10 touchdown pass to Reece Horn, followed by a 45-yard Dennis Tasic field goal after Nikolaus Huszar intercepted Reilly Hennessey. Trailing 10-0, the Surge responded with Hennessey threading a 14-yard scoring strike to Louis Geyer, but Vienna’s Karri Pajarinen countered with a physical 12-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 17-7. Stuttgart’s defense then ignited, sacking Holmes twice to force a punt. A meticulous 10-play drive before halftime culminated in Hennessey’s second TD connection with Geyer, narrowing the gap to 17-14.

The third quarter became a tactical stalemate until Stuttgart running back Tomiwa Oyewo broke loose on a 63-yard screen pass, setting up a game-tying 39-yard field goal. Vienna threatened to reclaim momentum when Holmes hit tight end Florian Bierbaumer for a diving 27-yard gain and converted a 4th-down sneak. However, Surge defensive back Mitch Fettig intercepted Holmes in the end zone, preserving the 17-17 tie. Early in the fourth, Vienna’s Divine Buckrham returned the favor with a leaping pick of Hennessey, but the Surge defense held firm.

Hennessey then delivered his defining moment, evading pressure to find Geyer on a 21-yard corner route for the receiver’s third touchdown—a franchise-record performance that put Stuttgart ahead 24-17 with 7:40 remaining. Geyer finished with 9 receptions for 132 yards, his chemistry with Hennessey (15/26, 232 yards, 3 TD) proving unstoppable in critical moments.

Facing a desperate Vikings offense, the Surge defense rose to the occasion. Defensive end Aaron Ellis sacked Holmes on third down, forcing a 4th-and-18 heave that fell incomplete. A Vienna offsides penalty gifted Stuttgart a fresh set of downs, bleeding the clock to 51 seconds. Holmes’ final drive reached midfield, but his lateral attempt to Yannick Mayr was snuffed out by linebacker Silas Nacita, sealing the Surge’s historic victory.

Watch highlights from the game here:  https://youtu.be/kYmZwP2lvhQ?si=NT87mluKE3t8kdtn

Here's a recap of the ELF's 2025 season:

West Division

1. Stuttgart Surge (10-2)
2. Paris Musketeers (7-5)
3. Frankfurt Galaxy (6-6)
4. Cologne Centurions (0-12)

North Division

1. Nordic Storm (10-2)
2. Rhein Fire (8-4)
3. Hamburg Sea Devils (3-9)
4. Berlin Thunder (3-9)

East Division

1. Vienna Vikings (11-1)
2. Prague Lions (7-5)
3. Panthers Wroclaw (5-7)
4. Fehvervar Enthroners (1-11)

South Division

1. Munich Ravens (11-1)
2. Madrid Bravos (8-4)
3. Raiders Tirol (6-6)
4. Helvetic Mercenaries (0-12)

Wildcard Playoffs

Nordic 28, Rhein 23

Stuttgart 41, Madrid 17

Semifinals

Vienna 28, Nordic 20

Stuttgart 27, Munich 13

Championship Game

Stuttgart 24, Vienna 17

The future of the ELF could be changing with the formation of the European Football Alliance (EFA).  The EFA, formed by dissatisfied ELF franchises, plans to launch the new league in 2026 with a more stable, team-owned model and greater financial transparency.  The ELF faces financial instability and leadership challenges so it will be interesting to see if the ELF will be back next season.