Stuttgart sophomore Michael Watkins returns a punt in the first half of a game against Wiesbaden on Sept. 13, 2024 in Wiesbaden, Germany. The Panthers won the game 14-12. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
WIESBADEN, Germany – Recent history hasn’t been too kind to the Wiesbaden Warriors on the football field. But it’s been more than fine for the Stuttgart Panthers.
But with the Warriors winning their first home game since 2019 to open the season and the defending champions coming off a loss to Ramstein, it looked like a new chapter might be taking place Saturday. Alas for Wiesbaden, that didn’t happen – mostly because a series of turnovers and mental mistakes in a 14-12 defeat. The Warriors could take heart, though, that they were always competitive in a game that could have gone either way.
“The past records have shown that Stuttgart hasn’t been too kind to us,” Wiesbaden head coach Jonathan Clowers said. “I told the kids to take it to heart, and that you have a chance to come out here and prove we’re not those same teams from yesteryear.”
Stuttgart – which looked vulnerable compared to past seasons last year as well by losing its opening game before going on to win its fourth straight title – had its own challenges. Senior quarterback Ty Jones missed the game due to a non-contact injury in practice earlier this week. His absence and losing the home opener to the Royals proved to be inspiring.
“We hadn’t lost a home game since 2016 and we were so mad,” said Stuttgart sophomore Kai Lewis, who’s filling in at quarterback. “All week that’s all we were thinking about, and you could see we played with grit today and it paid off.”
It took the teams most of the first quarter to settle into the game with penalties and a few miscues keeping the offenses from moving the ball very far on either end.
Late in the first quarter, though, a blundered punt return for Wiesbaden resulted in a turnover that set Stuttgart up deep in Warrior territory. The Panthers capitalized on the opportunity, capping the short drive off with a 5-yard run from sophomore running back Michael Watkins.
Wiesbaden’s offense drove down the field, but a fumble after a catch and run from senior wide receiver Christopher Edwards put the ball back in Stuttgart’s hands, albeit deep in their own territory.
The Warriors turned the tables, stopping the Panthers and turning defense into offense. Senior linebacker Peter Roscoe recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown midway through the second quarter, but a missed extra point left Wiesbaden narrowly trailing.
Wiesbaden put together a couple more promising drives led by sophomore quarterback Ben Cashen and senior running back Munro Davis but more turnovers kept the Warriors from putting up more points.
The Panthers had struggles of their own heading into halftime with two potential touchdowns negated by penalties.
Wiesbaden senior Jhon Colorado breaks up a pass intended for Stuttgart reciever Caleb Fox during a game in Wiesbaden, Germany on Sept. 13, 2024. Stuttgart won the game 14-12. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden quarterback Ben Cashen prepares for a throw in the third quarter of a home game against Stuttgart on Sept. 13, 2024. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden senior Hunter Luneke tackles Stuttgart quaterback Kai Lewis in the second half of a game in Wiesbaden, Germany on Sept. 13, 2024. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden freshman Zion Thompson jumps for a pass against Stuttgart defensive back Jeremyah Reyes on Sept. 13, 2024, in Wiesbaden, Germany. Thompson completed the catch for about a 30-yard gain. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Rain at the break made for slippery field conditions moving into the second half. After a couple three-and-outs from both teams, the Panthers found their footing and put up another scoring drive, capped by a run from Lewis.
Wiesbaden answered with a five-play, nearly 80-yard drive down the field that included a long catch by freshman receiver Zion Thompson, a big run from Davis and a touchdown catch from Edwards to kick off the fourth quarter. The Warriors came up short on the two-point conversion attempt, though, which proved to be the difference in the game.
A Wiesbaden drive with about five minutes left stalled due to offensive miscues and penalties. The Warriors managed to get the ball back again,
but with 26 seconds and much of the field to travel, the Warriors came up short.
“We lost that game, they (Stuttgart) did not win,” Clowers said. “We shot ourselves in the foot with a lot of penalties and a lot of turnovers ... moving forward if someone goes out there and wins it, kudos to them, but we won’t lose any more games like that.”
Stuttgart’s Lewis and Watkins said the team is happy with the win but this year’s young squad has a lot of work to do to stay on top in Europe.
“For some of the players, this was their first game on varsity,” Watkins said. “We just got to work on what we did wrong this game and keep working for that next game, for that European championship...We want a five-peat.”
Stuttgart quaterback Kai Lewis completes a handoff to junior running back Sammy Johnson during a game against Wiesbaden on Sept. 13, 2024, in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Panther running back Michael Watkins crosses the goal line for a touchdown against the Warriors on Sept. 13, 2024, in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden senior Munro Davis tackles Stuttgart quarterback Kai Lewis during a game in Wiesbaden, Germany on Sept. 13, 2024. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
Wiesbaden senior Christopher Edwards jumps for a catch against Stuttgart on Sept. 13, 2024, in Wiesbaden, Germany. Edwards scored a touchdown in the Warriors' 12-14 loss. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
