The Budapest couldn’t focus all game long and 55 yards of penalty in one single drive put them out of the game.

The first half brought us a really big defensive struggle. Both teams felt the pressure of this game and they wanted to limit the mistakes to the minimum. Though the Gladiators started with a big mistake, as a 26 yard field goal attempt missed to the right side on their first drive. This was the closest to a score for both teams as neither of them could cross the half line with the ball.
Peter De Gouw from the Gladiators made an interception, but they couldn’t convert the takeaway into points as the Wolves defense and a holding penalty kept them on fourth and 20 before the half.

In the third quarter the Wolves took the lead on their second possession. They got the ball back after Filip Vezmar’s interception. Attila Lendvai led his team across the field with short passes to Csanád Király and Krisztián Piros and also got some help by the runner Obi Mbagwu. The TD came from a catch by Piros from six yards out and with the successful extra they were 7 point ahead.

In the fourth quarter the Gladiators equalized immediately. They started with a great field position and after a few rushes they were near the end zone. On their one and only pass play during this drive David Hailimann caught the TD.

The nervous Wolves quickly punted the ball away and then came the drive where the Wolves made it really hard for themselves. The Gladiators had to start from their own 6 after a holding, but with a block in the back, a flag for the sideline, an unsportsmanlike conduct and a roughing the passer call they were at the Wolves’ 15 yard line after some yards they gained by running. The home team’s defense tried to put them together but it was late and Bernhard Kamber ran for the leading TD. With Manuel Houtz’s extra they scored 14 unanswered points.

But it was barely over. After a short kickoff Mbagwu ran 36 yards and kept their hopes alive; with a trick play that included a lateral they got the first down with enough time to score. Unfortunate for them, they couldn’t reach the end zone because they fumbled, ending the game.

The Gladiators finished first and the Wolves second in the North Conference and now they are waiting for the final score of the Serbian Monday Night Football to know their opponent in the semifinal.