Stockholm Mean Machines continues the perfect season with a semi-final victory over Tyresö Royal Crowns
Stockholm QB Mark Pappas threw for 265 yards and 3 TDs in a 35-22 win over Tyresö Royal Crowns Photo: Stefan Akander
The Stockholm Mean Machines advanced to Swedish championship match last weekend by defeating Tyresö Royal Crowns 35-22 i Swedish Super Series semifinals.
Stockholm had swept it Royal crowns during the regular season and ended it by eliminating them from the post-season. Despite the somewhat uneven score, Tyresö had a solid playing field that was eventually crushed due to mistakes and turnovers. The Mean Machines’ electric first quarter and solid defense proved to be too much for Royal crowns to come back from.
A cloudy Zinkensdamms IP The stadium was kicked off with an impressive run Royal crowns which ended with a touchdown. It was about the only time the home fans were silent. From then on, the audience was as electric as it was Mean Machines continued with 21 unanswered points before the end of the quarter.
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Stockholm WR Johan Hallgren # 84 had 6 catches for 38 yards and 1 TD Photo: Stefan Akander
Thanks to this great lead, Stockholm just needed to play a good defense from there and out. In the second quarter, they did just that. Led by linebacker Viljo Lempinen, the defense held Tyresö to zero second quarter points. On top of that Mean Machines broke the game wide open by making another touchdown in the closing seconds, making it 28-7 at halftime and the match looked pretty close for Stockholm.
But when you get out of the half, Royal crowns made it clear that they would not just lay down in defeat. Victor Benerius returned one Stockholm 70 meters to the house on one of today’s most exciting pieces. Unfortunately, Stockholm made sure that Royal crowns did not gain more momentum by making their own touchdown before the end of the quarter, making it 35-14 and sending their home fans back to insane.
Stockholm Mean Machines won the semifinal in the Super Series Men against @TRCofficiell with 35–22 (28–7) on Zinkensdamm’s IP and are ready for their fifth straight Swedish Championship final. The final is played at Behrn Arena against @rebroblackknigh Saturday, July 9th. https://t.co/JAGFmERH8E #GoSMM Photo by Stefan Akander pic.twitter.com/nVRHNu2vDz
– Stockholm Mean Machines (@SMM_Football) July 3, 2022
The Royal crowns got a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the fourth to make it respectable, but overall, this game was in the books at halftime.
If you are one Kronor Damn, this loss was hard to see. Tyresö a total of 455 offensive yards, well over 100 more than Stockholm. On top of that former UC Davis (NCAA Div. 1) Quarterback Hunter Rodrigues made excellent figures in just his second start for the team, throwing for 252 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another 105 yards. Tyresö also got a phenomenal play from wide receiver Edvin Tarborda who had eight catches on 138 yards and one point. But all this could not be overcome Kronor‘biggest problem, turnover. The crime had two lost fumbles and one wiretapping.
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Tyreso QB Hunter Rodrigues # 1 threw for 252 yards and 1 TD and rushed for 105 yards Photo: Stefan Akander
On Stockholm side of the field, quarterback Mark Pappas, who led Superserien in passing, continued his incredible play this year by putting up 265 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday. The Mean Machines also had a good play by Viljo Lempinin who finished with 6.5 tackles with a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
Stockholm will continue their perfect season as they advance to the finals. Meanwhile Tyresö will make sure to put this year behind him after losing every game since the season opener.