RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Advantage, Royals.

The first of two games in an unconventional two-week series went to the defending champion Ramstein Royals on Saturday. Ramstein dispatched the rival Wiesbaden Warriors 25-14 behind 10 unanswered second-half points.

The Royals and Warriors - who also played in last year’s title game, won 13-8 by Ramstein - entered Saturday’s game knowing that they’d meet again Oct. 28 in a DODEA-Europe Division I semifinal matchup. The two were locked into the semifinals’ No. 2-versus-No. 3 matchup; Saturday’s game determined which would seize the second seed and host the playoff game.

Ramstein collected those rewards with a lockdown second half and a pair of scores that expanded the 15-14 lead it enjoyed at halftime.

GeVaughn Bracy carried 28 times for 116 yards and the clinching fourth-quarter touchdown, while Trevor Miller and Connor Davey also added rushing scores for the Royals. Miller completed seven passes for 122 yards, while Naser Eaves hauled in four receptions for 89 yards. Dylan Grimes nailed a 28-yard field goal for a key third-quarter boost.

Caleb Brown collected 122 rushing yards and a touchdown and Josh Blake totaled 73 rushing yards and a score for the Warriors.

Ramstein’s Nick Clinton and Wiesbaden’s Sam Richards and Chance Arnoldussen tied for game-high honors with eight tackles each.

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