Vienna Vikings Advance to the Gold Bowl After Dominant Win Over London Warriors
Seven first half touchdown passes from Holmes set the tone as Vikings cruise into the AFLE Gold Bowl 2026.
Final Score: London Warriors at Vienna Vikings – 34:71
History Made in the First Half
Ben Holmes delivered one of the great postseason performances in the first half alone. Seven touchdown passes before the break effectively ended this contest as a contest, and the Vikings never let up. The first ten offensive drives of the game all ended in touchdowns, a staggering run of efficiency that exposed real problems in the Warriors‘ defensive backfield and made it clear from very early on which team was heading to the Gold Bowl.
No Answer for the Vikings Receivers
Mayr and Stewart Jr. were the standout performers in the receiving corps, each hauling in five catches for over 100 yards and three touchdowns. But what was perhaps most impressive was the breadth of the attack. Nine different receivers caught passes on the day, underlining just how many weapons the Vikings have at their disposal and how impossible they are to game-plan against when everything is clicking.
A Clean Operation Up Front
Not a single sack was allowed by the Vikings offensive line, giving Holmes all the time he needed to dissect the Warriors defense. The stat line of 6 of 9 third down conversions compared to London’s 4 of 10 tells the story of how efficiently Vienna operated from start to finish.
Warriors Show Fight
To their credit, the Warriors did not simply roll over. Quarterback Karé Lyles connected repeatedly with tight end Kevin Laryea, causing the Vikings defense genuine problems at times, and the ground game showed promise with 4.5 yards per attempt. But falling so far behind so early forced London to abandon the run and go pass-heavy, playing into Vienna’s hands. Backup quarterback Nico Hrouda also got valuable playoff minutes for the Vikings late in the game.
What’s Next
The London Warriors head into the offseason with plenty to reflect on. Analysing what went wrong, keeping key players signed and building for next season will be the priority.
The Vienna Vikings are going to the AFLE Gold Bowl 2026, where they will face the winner of the second semifinal between the Panthers Wroclaw and Rhein Fire.
