Gdynia escapes Poznan with 14-12 victory over Kozly, clinch North title in process

Judging by the result of Sunday's game between Kozly Poznan and the Gdynia Seahawks, it would appear as though the Topliga's 'Big Four' have company. The Seahawks, looking to leave Poznan with a North Division title, managed to accomplish that feat, but not with a struggle. The defending champions trailed at halftime and into the fourth quarter before coming back to record a nervous 14-12 victory.

The Seahawks helped Kozly to a halftime lead with mistakes. Jeremy Dixon started at quarterback for Gdynia in place of Ferni Garza, who was planning to rest for the playoffs after sustaining a minor injury in last week's game against the Eagles. The Seahawks suffered four first-half turnovers, and they didn't score until after the break. Kozly, meanwhile, got a 35-yard touchdown reception from Jakub Kloskowski in the second quarter to take a 6-0 lead.

Garza came in to lead the Seahawks back in the second half, but not before Kozly doubled their advantage on Jeffrey Legree's second touchdown pass of the game, an 80-yard strike to Krzysztof Owsianowski. The Gdynia offense answered this time, finally completing a drive when Sebastian Krzysztofek ran 15 yards to the end zone to make it 12-7 in the fourth quarter.

Gawel Pilachowski's 14th touchdown run of the year put the Seahawks up 14-12 in the fourth quarter, and that would end up as the final tally. The difference in the game therefore was two unsuccessful two-point conversion tries by Poznan, recalling Kozly's 7-6 loss last season in an upset bid against the Wroclaw Devils, when a failed two-point try ended up deciding the game.

Kozly, already eliminated from playoff contention, fell to 4-5 with the loss. They will complete their season on June 23, when they take on the Giants in Wroclaw. The Seahawks, who earned the right to host a playoff game with their division title, will do so on June 30, when they will take on the second-place team from the South Division. That opponent will be one of the Wroclaw teams, although which it will be will not be decided until next weekend.