Victory in the 2025 Season Opener

Victory in the 2025 Season Opener

Panthers Wrocław started the 2025 European League of Football season with a win! After a spectacular showdown, the Wrocław team defeated the Hungarian Fehérvár Enthroners 55–12.

A New-Look Offense

Head coach Craig Kuligowski’s squad set a fast pace and established their style of play right from the opening drive, scoring a touchdown on their first offensive possession. New American quarterback DJ Irons wasted no time showcasing his talent to the Wrocław crowd, rushing for a 26-yard touchdown – the first score of the game and the entire 2025 season. This play confirmed Irons’ status as a true dual-threat quarterback – capable of making plays both through the air and on the ground. He finished the game with 7 carries for 77 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns.

From the very beginning, Irons found chemistry with his wide receiver duo – Darell Stewart Jr. (4 catches, 57 yards, 2 TDs) and Ott Eric Ottender (5 catches, 29 yards, 1 TD). The offense was firing on all cylinders, both in the air and on the ground. Running back Dawid Brzozowski also made a strong contribution, racking up an impressive 113 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.

“I’m happy with how we played. I’m not surprised by the big win – I knew we were capable of such a performance. DJ Irons delivered, although I know he can play even better. I think our offensive line did a great job – they complemented each other well and managed the clock smartly toward the end. We’re happy with the win, but next week a strong team is coming to town. We’ll need to cut down on mistakes and penalties – that’s our main focus now,” said Panthers head coach Craig Kuligowski.

Defensive Harmony and Execution

While the offense impressed, the defense was even more dominant. The Panthers’ defensive unit gave the Hungarian team very little room to operate. The Enthroners’ ground game was shut down almost completely, with most runs stopped near the line of scrimmage. Their passing game caused a bit more trouble, especially due to the solid performance of tall wide receiver Rashad Darnell Still. He had a fierce matchup with our cornerback Devan Burrell – sparks flew from the very first snap. But Burrell rose to the challenge, just like the entire defense, which allowed only two touchdowns, stopped two two-point conversions, forced an interception, and applied constant pressure on the opposing quarterback.

The Devan Burrell Show

Last season’s top returner made an immediate impact once again, scoring two touchdowns in the first game of the 2025 season – one on a return, and the other on a pick-six. Both plays were electrifying, but the second one will go down in European League of Football history: Burrell intercepted the ball and weaved past 11 opposing players, covering over 80 yards to reach the end zone. Moments like this are exactly why fans should come to Olympic Stadium in Wrocław!

The League Isn’t Slowing Down

Panthers Wrocław will be back in action next week! On Sunday, May 25 at 1:00 PM, they will face the Danish-Swedish team Nordic Storm at Olympic Stadium. Tickets are available now on Ticketm