Spangdahlem quarterback Zander Doulder tosses the ball to running back Cordrick Sago while Alconbury's Edison Vega chases during a Sept. 26, 2025, game at Spangdahlem High School in Spangdahlem, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

The Spangdahlem and Alconbury football teams know each other quite well.

DODEA-Europe’s six-man football division had only three squads suit up – the above two teams plus Baumholder. So, the teams saw other twice during the regular season.

Friday at Spangdahlem High School, the Sentinels and Dragons will meet for the third time this campaign – this time for a European crown on the line. Kick off is set at 6 p.m. CET.

Being so acquainted with each other could be an issue, as both opponents know the ins and outs of the other. Yet Alconbury coach Steve Casner doesn’t see it as a negative.

“It’s just familiarity, which in a way, when you’re teaching D-III, it’s kind of novices, it’s a calming or soothing fact that at least you know what you’re going up against,” he said.

The 2025 six-man football final pits two teams used to reaching this stage.

Alconbury (2-2) made it to the division’s final last year and lost to Sigonella. Spangdahlem (3-1), meanwhile, returned to six-man football after playing the nine-man version last season, having won the title in 2023.

Just like the win over AFNORTH two years ago, the Sentinels get to host this final game.

“The players have been out here since Aug. 4, they’ve been working hard, they’ve been learning, showing up every day,” first-year Spangdahlem coach Aaron Wells said. “So, the entire team is really excited about putting forth our best effort on Friday.”

If the regular season is any indication, Spangdahlem enters Friday as the favorite. The Sentinels won both contests – 34-0 at Spangdahlem on Sept. 26 and 46-12 on Oct. 25.

The Sept. 26 game was particularly one sided, as the Sentinels outgained the Dragons 311-78. Spangdahlem recorded four scores of more than 40 yards via the arm of quarterback Zander Doulder and the legs of running back Cordrick Sago.

Spangdahlem led 8-6 late in the first half of the Oct. 25 matchup before a pair of Alconbury turnovers sparked the Sentinels to pull away before the break.

In that second matchup, Spangdahlem pounded the Dragons into submission.

“We know they have grit, and they’re going to answer the bell, fight the whole fight. We have to be willing to do the same,” Casner said.

“If this was a boxing match, as we’re doing the tale of the tape, I feel like every guy on their team has a 12-inch reach advantage on every guy on our team.”

Not that the Sentinels are sleeping on the threat Alconbury poses.

Wells said his players know Grant Cumming and Jacob Stuhler, the latter a running back and passer, could burn them if they don’t execute defensively.

Casner said his team also will need to play a clean game. In the first game between the two teams, Alconbury committed 12 penalties for 100 yards. Combine that with the turnovers in the second game, and the Dragons sometimes have been their own worst enemy.

Handling those errors could make or break the game, Wells said.

“Mistakes will be made on both sides,” he said. “We just have to figure out how we can overcome mistakes and execute.”