Raiders Celebrate First Win of the Season in Offensive Showcase at Frankfurt

The Raiders Tirol pulled off the biggest upset of the European Football Alliance’s inaugural season so far, defeating Frankfurt Galaxy 61-41 on the road to secure their first victory of the year. Making his debut for the club, new quarterback Kenyatte Allen delivered a sensational performance, leading the Raiders’ offense with remarkable efficiency from start to finish.

Perfect Start for the Raiders

From the opening drive, it was clear that the Raiders looked like a different team with their new quarterback under center. Running back Tim Tonko capped the first sustained possession with an eight-yard touchdown run to give Tirol a 6-0 lead. Frankfurt responded immediately as Ethan Garbers connected with Brevin Easton for a 34-yard touchdown pass, putting Galaxy ahead 7-6. It would prove to be Frankfurt’s only lead of the afternoon.

Allen remained unfazed. The quarterback answered with a one-yard rushing touchdown to restore the Raiders’ advantage at 12-7 before the end of the first quarter. At that point, Tirol had already established control of both possession and the pace of the game.

Offensive Explosion Before Halftime

The Raiders took over completely in the second quarter. Allen first found Aaron Jackson for a 10-yard touchdown to make it 19-7 before striking again just moments later. On the very next Raiders possession, Jackson raced 78 yards to the end zone on a perfectly delivered pass from Allen, extending the lead to 26-7.

Frankfurt answered through the connection between Ethan Garbers and tight end Adria Botella Moreno, who caught two touchdown passes to keep Galaxy within reach. However, every Galaxy score was met with an immediate response. Toni Rabensteiner hauled in another touchdown pass from Allen before Tobias Bonatti broke loose for a spectacular 60-yard touchdown run with just 30 seconds remaining in the half, giving Tirol a commanding 40-21 advantage at the break. Although Frankfurt continued to move the football offensively, they had no answer for the Raiders’ explosive attack.

Raiders Stay in Complete Control

Tirol remained firmly in command after halftime. A methodical nine-play drive ended with Tim Tonko’s second rushing touchdown of the day, stretching the lead to 47-21. While the Raiders controlled both the clock and possession, Frankfurt struggled to sustain drives and was forced off the field multiple times without points.

Paul Kavadia-Lenhardt briefly reduced the deficit to 47-28 early in the fourth quarter, but Bonatti answered immediately with his second long touchdown run of the afternoon. Lukas Haslwanter later added another rushing score to make it 61-28, putting the outcome beyond doubt. Frankfurt added two late touchdowns through Normen Schumm and Gerald Ameln, but they served only to reduce the final margin.

Allen Shines in Raiders Debut

Kenyatte Allen enjoyed a near-perfect debut for the Raiders. The American quarterback completed 30 of his 31 pass attempts for 408 yards and three touchdowns while adding another rushing touchdown. His favorite target was Aaron Jackson, who finished with nine receptions for 159 yards and two touchdowns. The running game was equally dominant, with Tobias Bonatti rushing for 115 yards and two touchdowns, while Tim Tonko added 42 rushing yards and two scores of his own. Altogether, the Raiders amassed an impressive 603 yards of total offense while controlling possession for more than 38 minutes.

Playoff Race Tightens

For Frankfurt Galaxy, the loss represents a significant setback in the race for the EFA BIG4 Playoff Weekend. Ethan Garbers threw for 345 yards and four touchdowns before backup quarterback Conrad Schumann added two touchdown passes late in the game, but the Galaxy defense never found an answer for Tirol’s high-powered offense.

For the Raiders, meanwhile, the 61-41 victory marks their first win of the inaugural European Football Alliance season and sends a strong statement heading into the final stretch of the campaign, with Kenyatte Allen making an unforgettable first impression in Tirol colors.