Raiders hold on late - "We showed we can finish"
Felix Pahl
© Goran MilosavjevicIn what was arguably the most thrilling game of the ELF season so far, the Raiders Tirol secured a dramatic 35–34 win over the Madrid Bravos in a tense Central Conference showdown. In front of a packed home crowd at Tivoli Stadium, both teams delivered explosive performances in a game decided by a failed two-point conversion in the final seconds.
Balanced attack leads the way for Tirol
The Raiders showcased their offensive versatility throughout the night. Quarterback N’Kosi Perry contributed both through the air and on the ground, while running backs Lukas Haslwanter and Tobias Bonatti each scored key rushing touchdowns. Tirol’s aggressive playcalling also paid off, converting multiple fourth downs to keep drives alive and maintain momentum.
Cruickshank shines for Madrid
Madrid’s offense once again leaned on the productive connection between quarterback Reid Sinnett and wide receiver Aron Cruickshank. The standout receiver was everywhere on the field, scoring three touchdowns through the air and adding a fourth on the ground. Despite falling behind by two scores in the third quarter, the Bravos rallied and scored a late touchdown with just 16 seconds remaining.
Watch the Bravos at Raiders highlights here!
Defense delivers at the end
Opting to go for the win, Madrid attempted a two-point conversion to take the lead - but Tirol’s defense held firm, stopping running back Eduard Molina just short of the goal line. The Raiders recovered the onside kick to seal the one-point victory.
Raiders respond under pressure
After the game, Raiders running back Lukas Haslwanter reflected on the narrow but crucial win: “It feels good after last week - the win was important for us. We showed we can finish. We knew they had a strong offense, but our defense did very well. At the same time, we wanted to show what we can do on offense - and we did.”
Looking ahead
With the win, the Raiders Tirol improve to 3–2 and remain firmly in the playoff conversation. The Madrid Bravos, now also 3–2, will use their Week 6 bye to regroup before facing the Hamburg Sea Devils in Week 7.