Ramstein RoyalsHead coach: Carlos AmponinLast year: 6-2, conference co-champion, lost to Wiesbaden 23-21 in D-I championship game.Key games: Sept. 15 vs. Filton, Sept. 22 at Vilseck.By their standards, the ground-hugging Royals are going to air it out this season in an attempt to win their first European title since 2009.“I believe our run-pass ratio last year was something like 92-8 percent,” emailed Royals’ head coach Amponin. “I think this year we may open it up and run only 90 percent of the time.”Three quarterbacks are vying for the chance to throw those two-percent more passes, Ampoinin reported: returning senior starter Dylan LePage, senior Brennan Lege and junior Lucas Mireles. Senior running back Zak Boswell, a 5-9, 170-pounder, will take over from graduated workhorse Jon Groteleuschen, a two-time All-European.Bowell, however, will be running behind senior All-Europe lineman Mason Price and junior Joey Bahret, which should make the task of shouldering Groteleuschen’s load less difficult that it might seem. Defensively, Amponin reported that senior linebacker Tyler Rood is back for a third season, and Boswell at safety will anchor the unit.

2012 scheduleSept. 15: Filton; JV at Patch.Sept. 22: at VilseckSept. 29: PatchOct. 5: at WiesbadenOct. 13: at LakenheathOct. 20: Kaiserslautern