The third quarterfinal was a duel between Calanda Broncos and Badalona Dracs. The home team quickly turned the game into a rout with an overwhelming first half that stunned the Catalans and left them scrambling for answers the rest of the evening. The third quarter offered a brief pause in the scoring and then the visitors mounted a late bid in the fourth, but the damage had long been done.

At the start of the game Badalona Dracs were effective with quick passes and effective runs. They had no trouble moving the chains to the red zone and then their kicking unit put the initial points on the board over Jan Ladero Vera, 0-3.

The home team’s first offensive series was more linear. Running back Noah Bachofen was the man to stop and the opposing defense couldn’t. He ran with the rock over and over, grabbed a pass, and finally punched in from the goal line, 7-3.

An on-side kick ensued and the Broncos’ special team got to the ball first. Their quarterback Robin Sennrich kept the ball before hurling it to Ismael Schmid to the 3 yard line. Tight end Thomas Smith took a direct snap on a wildcat play and did the rest for 14-3.

The visitors’ drive was swiftly stopped by Sebastian Katz’s interception. Sennrich hit the road, spinning away from one defender and outrunning others for 52 yards. Smith breezed into the end zone to up the bar, 21-3.

A quick 3&out by the Dracs accelerated the scoring in the second quarter. The ball was advanced over the ground by Amel Adjovi and Smith. A trick play saw Sennrich spiral to Lucas Hinnen and then Smith cross the line for 28-3.

By then the Catalans felt they had to risk it, going on 4th down in their own territory. It didn’t work out, nor could their defense stop the following Adjovi’s rush of 27 yards. Sennrich continued from there, reaching the guarded area, 35-3.

The visitors persisted with the passing game. Pol Singleton Planas connected with Jashaun Foster and David Martinez, who spun into the end zone to lower the difference, 35-10.

Ola Gaarden’s kickoff return to the opposing side of the field moved the Broncos closer. A doublet from Bachofen was all it took for another score. First he outpaced his defenders, breaking tackles and spinning for 37 yards. Next he sliced through the middle, jumping over a safety for 42-10.

The Dracs gave the ball up when their returner fumbled on the next kickoff. Adjovi was untouched, sprinting for a 32 yard touchdown and triggering the mercy rule, 48-10.

An unsuccessful drive by the home team consumes most of the third quarter. Then, as if another Spanish team had walked out of the locker room, Singleton Planas moves the chains with a pass to Martinez, then a couple to Iu Alsina Virgill. Foster does the rest with two rushes, the latter one for a score, 42-17.

Their defense shows up too, forcing the Broncos to punt with their backs to the goal line. A short boot gives the visitors’ offense the ball at the rival’s 26 yard line. Singleton Planas launches a rocket to Foster, who leaps to snatch it out of the air, 42-24.

As a final touch, their teammate Gerard Palau Navas recorded an interception, but the time ran out on them.

This impressive victory takes Calanda Broncos to the semifinals. They will host Warsaw Eagles there on 6 June and the game will start at 16:00 CET.