Riga Bears Dominate at Home, Crush Klaipėda Curonians
The Riga Bears American football team secured a dominant 44-13 victory over the Klaipėda Curonians at home, earning their first win of the season in the Baltic American Football League.
On July 4, the Riga Bears returned to their home field after two consecutive away losses and delivered a commanding performance against the Klaipėda Curonians, winning 44-13.
The first half was one-sided. Quarterback Emīls Kaufmanis led the offense with precise passing, throwing three touchdown passes and running for another. The defense was flawless, forcing quick punts and intercepting passes. After a 40-yard drive and multiple touchdowns, including a pick-six by Emīls Garančs, the lead reached 38-0, triggering a running clock.
In the second half, Markuss Bērziņš intercepted another pass, and Garančs scored again to make it 44-0. However, the Bears then made several mistakes, allowing the Curonians to score 13 points, bringing the final score to 44-13.
Offensive MVP was Emīls Kaufmanis (13/18 passing, 112 yards, 3 TD passes; 5 rushes for 54 yards, 1 rushing TD). Defensive MVP was Emīls Garančs (8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 pick-six).
In a parallel game, the Tartu Titans rallied to beat the Kaunas Dukes 18-14, remaining undefeated.
With this win, the Bears' playoff hopes have significantly improved. Their decisive home game against the Vilnius Iron Wolves is scheduled for August 22-23. The team is actively seeking new players without prior experience to join the roster.
