In the second round of play in the Scandinavian cut last weekend, the Stockholm Medium Machinery found themselves in an unexpected battle against Oslo Vikings in Norwaybut a series of goals in the third quarter dashed the hopes of Norwegian visitors, and Medium machines came away with a convincing 39-17 victory.

Much of the damage was caused by from Stockholm versatile receiver Matt Retzlaff who baffled the vikings secondary repeatedly, finding the end zone four times.

After a calm first half, Retzlaff came alive in the final two quarters, making six of his eight catches and scoring three of his touchdowns as stockholm pulled away after taking a 13-3 halftime lead.

Quarterback Mark Pappas was effective 17 of 22 for 185 yards and five touchdowns while Retzlaff caught eight of those passes for 94 yards and scored four of those touchdowns. Johan Hallgren had five catches for 37 yards and a touchdown while Robin Gavelin Miranda had two catches for 45 yards while scoring three extra points. Running back Oliwer Stedt led all rushers with 17 carries for 84 yards.

Stockholm Mean Machines QB Mark Pappas throwing one of his 21 assists in the win over the Oslo Vikings of Norway Photo: Stefan Akander

For Oslo, Quarterback Jesber Johnsen completed 19 of 41 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown with Frederik Fjeldseth catching six passes for 68 yards and Linn Byrd six for 54. Jesper Jørgensen rushed for 46 yards on nine carries. Fjeldseth kicked the basket for Oslo while Matteo Parise caught a touchdown pass and Johannes Nilsson scored on a one-yard run.

It was the vikings who took the lead first as Johnsen walked Oslo on a methodical 15-play, 66-yard drive that took just under six minutes before stalling at the nine-yard line with Fjeldseth kicking a 26-yard field goal.

stockholm fought back on the next possession as Pappas led his team to the vikings three-yard line before connecting with Hallgren to give his team a 7-3 lead, still in the first quarter. Neither team was able to gain momentum until the Medium machines returned to the end zone with four minutes left in the half. Stedt did much of the damage on an 80-yard drive that Pappas finished with a four-yard touchdown pass to Retzlaff, who had been quiet for much of the half, to extend the lead to 13 -3 at the break.

The third quarter changed the tone of the game as Medium machines scored three unanswered touchdowns while neutralizing the Oslo offense. Retzlaff carried a three-yard pass from Pappas in the first practice of the second half, then Alpha Jalloh took from Oslo first punt of the second half 81 yards to the end zone. Suddenly, stockholm had grabbed a 26-3. With the vikings bottled up in their own end, a failed fourth attempt gave the Medium machines the ball at Oslo 35 meter line. Pappas made no mistake, hitting Retzlaff for 30 yards two plays later to extend the lead to 32-3 late in the third quarter.

Oslo Vikings QB Jesber Johnsen evades a Stockholm defender Photo: Stefan Akander

The fourth quarter saw the vikings score consecutive touchdowns thanks to an excellent position on the field. Johnsen hit Parise for a yard score and then Nilsson hit the ball from a yard to cut the lead to 32-17 with four minutes remaining.

the Medium machines were not completed as Pappas marched his side from his own 45-yard line after a missed kick from Oslo. He made no mistake capping a six-play drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Retzlaff.

With victory, stockholm has control over Group B with a 2-0 record and one game to go.

In other games, Denmark’s Aalborg 89ers tied their record in Group A at 1-1 after beating the Kristiansand Gladiators from Norway 27-21 and Carlstad’s Swedish Crusaders shot the Eidsvoll 1814s from Norway 43-14 to go 1-1 in Group B.