AFLE Gold Bowl MVP Ben Holmes emotional after championship win
Ben Holmes delivered a spectacular quarterback performance as the Vienna Vikings dominated the Panthers Wrocław in the AFLE Gold Bowl. With 331 passing yards, six touchdowns and a near-perfect passer rating, Holmes was the driving force behind Vienna’s championship performance and was it by emotions after the final whistle blew.
QB Ben Holmes controls the AFLE Gold Bowl
From the opening drive, Holmes showed complete control of the Vikings offense. Vienna immediately attacked through the air, using accurate throws and an explosive passing game to put the Panthers defense under constant pressure.
After being asked how he felt after winning the Gold Bowl, Holmes was hit by emotions: “A bit emotional, but that’s okay, right? Especially if you win a championship and do it in that style”. He continued: “That’s what we wanted to do. We wanted to come out and just dominate and we did that for all four quarters.”
Holmes completed 14 of 18 passes for 331 yards and six touchdowns, finishing with a remarkable 77.78 percent completion rate, 18.39 yards per attempt and a 158.3 passer rating. He threw no interceptions and was sacked just once, underlining how efficiently Vienna protected its quarterback and executed its offensive game plan.
The result was an overwhelming early lead. Vienna scored three touchdowns in the first quarter before adding another 27 points in the second, taking a 48–5 advantage into halftime.
Vikings passing game was on fire
Holmes was able to spread the ball around effectively, making the Vienna passing attack extremely difficult to defend. Yannick Mayr was one of the biggest deep threats, recording three receptions for 117 yards and one touchdown, including a spectacular 58-yard scoring play.
Darrell Stewart Jr. was equally important in the red zone. He caught three passes for 82 yards and three touchdowns, with a long reception of 48 yards. Florian Bierbaumer provided another reliable target, finishing with six catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns.
Nicolas Touré also contributed two receptions for 66 yards, including a 49-yard catch. The numbers show just how widely Holmes distributed the football, with five Vikings receivers combining for substantial production.
QB Ben Holmes delivers when lights shine bright
The Panthers had defeated Vienna during the regular season, but the Gold Bowl told a completely different story. Holmes responded on the biggest stage with one of the most efficient quarterback performances of the AFLE season.
Six touchdown passes, 331 yards, zero interceptions and a 158.3 rating made Holmes the clear offensive centerpiece of Vienna’s championship triumph. His performance not only powered the Vikings to the Gold Bowl title but also provided a fitting highlight for a quarterback who completely took over the championship game.
