The Budapest Wolves joined SELAF in 2007 and although they are, like most SELAF teams, a young team, based on reputation of playing in Austrian Division I, they were in most people’s eyes the clear favorite to win the league.

And they did in fact live up to those expectations in the spring part of the season, not losing a single game. Well, sort of. First they unexpectedly lost at home in the Austrian playoffs, then their quarterback left and the mighty Wolves weren’t quite the same. The truth is their loss in Belgrade and their tight win in Kragujevac came with many standard players left back in Budapest. But they played Novi Sad at home, and it was still a lot closer than the first game against Dukes. They still made it and that’s what counts.

“…What happened a month ago, a week ago is irrelevant, and as the saying goes, it’s win or go home. Does it matter that it’s [CEFL Bowl] in Beograd, I’d have to say not much. In my opinion, the most important thing here is the fact that it’s the finals. If that doesn’t ramp up the intensity level for the players, nothing can. At this point, it’s the only factor”, says William Goldenberg from the Wolves’ coaching staff.

No longer just a coach, but now the coach of the Wolves’ after their head coaches illness forced him to be away from the team for the last month, including the semifinal against Dukes. When it comes to losses another tough one for a team that on the field lost just one game.

“What with Lee’s [Hlavka, Head Coach] prolonged and rather sudden illness, I’ve obviously been scrambling. Having said that, in the prior two games as well as the practices, Gabor Boda was helping out with the Defense, and he’s the Coach of the Gyor Sharks, as well as an experienced Defensive Lineman. Tamas Imrei has been with us all year as our special teams coach, and I feel extremely fortunate that Kevin Jackson has moved his schedule around to be able to help with the practices leading up to the final, as well as accompanying us to the final”, says Goldenberg.

Going back to their semifinal game, they will definitely have to play better. Not only did the game against a team they beat by 16 points in spring go into overtime, but on their opponents first three drive they forced three turnovers, and as their offense used up the drives that followed the scoreboard said just 7-0. Pretty soon, it was 7-14 and the agonizing second half and overtime followed.

“There’s really no excuse for the Novi Sad game. Mentally, we were unprepared, as evidenced by our first four possessions … Regarding the sloppiness, there’s never a good excuse … Before placing blame on a specific situation, I’d first lay the blame on myself. Having said that, expect a much more mentally prepared staff and team for the finals.”

Being better prepared mentally will certainly help the Wolves win the title game. What will also help is having Yordan back full time. Not being with the team for so long, he took his place on the sideline against Novi Sad, but after the Wolves went down seven, there was no reason to wait any longer. He came in and it took him just one drive to tie the game. In overtime he found Csanád Király for the win and on Saturday he’ll try to do the same.