Football

Kaiserslautern vs Ramstein. The Royals want another title and Kaiserslautern wants to do everything it can to make sure that does not happen.

Two weeks ago, Ramstein won by nine at Kaiserslautern. Tomorrow at Ramstein, the Raiders get their chance to even the score when they meet again at 1 p.m. in the semifinal round of the Division One European Championships.  Kaiserslautern had to win at Lakenheath last weekend to get into position to play the Royals, setting up the dramatic rematch.

The teams that play against Ramstein are figuring out three things. They should not run at Logan Ridenbaugh, the offensive line of Sean Hogan, David Carreno, Chris May, Teddy Ward and Ridenbaugh is going to go after them relentlessly and that Dom Arizpe is really fast. Ridenbaugh anchored the right defensive end spot and stoned Vilseck with eleven tackles. He added two sacks and a blocked punt en route to a 30-10 Royals victory in the last regular season game. The score would have been more lopsided, but Arizpe had two kickoff returns for touchdowns called back because of penalties. He did get one that counted when he scooted around right end for 73 yards that staked the Royals to a 17-3 lead shortly after the second half began.

Ramstein added a one-yard sneak from Carl Norman, a punishing TD from Oliver Seelig, a pass from Ethan Smith to Javyn Hill and a 30-yard field goal from Matt Reismann. Vilseck was held to three points until it ran in a very late touchdown.

In the UK, Kaiserslautern drove 60 yards in less than two minutes before Tre Dotson’s 9-yard run and two-point conversion run with less than a minute to go iced a 29-27 come from behind victory at Lakenheath. Dorian Cotton then locked it up by grabbing an interception. Sophomore quarterback Nelson Rivas completed 14 of 26 for 167 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions. Dotson caught five balls for 78 yards and a touchdown. Shaun Edwards and Kaylon Williams grabbed the other two TDs. Defensively Stephan Cooley had 16 tackles and Drew Frederick had 12.

“Our Kaiserslautern boys kept fighting the whole game,” said a tired Coach Robert Allen after a 15-hour bus trip. “These young men have been working hard for this since last spring, and their work and dedication showed. Kaiserslautern has a winning record and four regular season wins for the first time in a long time, and all the credit goes to these boys. They believe in each other and have worked hard to create a winning team and a never-give-up culture.” 

In Spangdahlem, Baumholder had upset on the brain and its defense was relentless in holding unbeaten Spangdahlem to just 20 points. But Spangdahlem’s was just as stout, allowing 19. In six-man football, that is almost like a shut out.