Ansbach running back Daeveon Browne stiff-arms his way past Buccaneer Keryel Badillo during a Sept. 16, 2023, game at Baumholder Middle High School in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

BAUMHOLDER, GERMANY – Everything looks brighter around the Ansbach football team seems this fall.

Two weeks into the season, the Cougars have surpassed their win total from 2022 by collecting their second victory, 52-6, over Baumholder on Saturday at Baumholder Middle High School. It marked Ansbach’s second mercy-rule victory after a win over Hohenfels last week.

Adding to that shine for coach Stephen Choate is the Cougars employ an almost completely new roster. In fact, of the 17 players who have dressed through two weeks, 11 played their first football games this season.

Some of those players joined from other sports, like many who made the move from soccer.

“It’s great to win the first two,” said Choate, who mentioned the excitement is spreading within the community as the school has seen its largest enrollment since 2015. “Last year was a hard season here at Ansbach, so it’s been really good to have some new people coming in and really contributing from the beginning.

“They’re athletes, a lot of soccer players who got the American football bug. They’ve been taking a hit, getting up and they’re starting to put pads on people. It’s exciting to watch them get better each week.”

One of those soccer-turned-football players is Daeveon Browne.

The 6-foot, 180-pound junior played a major role in the Cougars’ runner-up finish in the spring, and he showed what he’s capable of in football Saturday. The running back scored touchdowns on all three of his carries for a total of 112 yards.

Browne showcased his power, punching in a 4-yard score on the team’s first offensive possession following a fumble recovery. He also displayed his speed and his agility on touchdowns of 49 and 59 yards, the latter of which he juked out the defender on the outside to go untouched.

“There’s a lot of people that have played different sports, but we learned it pretty fast and we’re doing good,” Browne said. “It’s definitely more physical, a more contact sport, but I like it.”

Buccaneer running back George Corbin surveys his next move during a Sept. 16, 2023, game against Ansbach at Baumholder Middle High School in Baumholder, Germany. Chasing are, from left, Ansbach defenders Nathan Arreguin and Derek Richard. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Baumholder quarterback Keryel Badillo throws the ball during the first quarter of the Buccaneers' matchup with Ansbach at Baumholder Middle High School in Baumholder, Germany. The Cougars won, 52-6. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ansbach defenders, from left, Derek Richard and Nathan Arreguin team up to tackle Buccaneer runner George Corbin during a game on Sept. 16, 2023, at Baumholder Middle High School in Baumholder, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Two of Browne’s scores made up half of the Cougars’ one-play scoring drives on the day.

Sophomore Nathan Arreguin, who also picked off a pass on defense, took a sweep 32 yards to paydirt after a Baumholder fourth-down attempt failed to make it 12-0 in the first quarter. The 6-0, 145-pound receiver made a guy miss and cut back inside on the play.

Senior Antonio Puente punched in a 1-yard score late in the second quarter after recovering a high snap from the Buccaneers (0-2) to finish off the quick scoring drives.

Junior quarterback Mason Batin added a 4-yard run at the end of the first quarter to make it 28-0, while Puente jumped on the ball in the Baumholder end zone when another snap went over the head of the quarterback to enforce the mercy rule.

Like the Cougars, the Buccaneers entered the 2023 campaign as a young, inexperienced squad.

The difference being Baumholder didn’t have a squad last season.

Of the 13 players on the roster, six are freshmen playing the sport for the first time. Coach B.J. Walker said it’s exciting to have the program back, while the players may take their lumps this season.

Baumholder did have some success Saturday. Quarterback Keryel Badillo heaved a pass down the middle of the field late in the first quarter, and receiver Gregory Makubuya got behind the defense to snatch it for a 65-yard score.

“Six-man football is like a track meet – you have to be in shape,” Walker said. “We have to learn to tackle, and the first couple of plays, our quarterback overthrew the receiver. Make a couple of catches, it would have been a different ballgame.”

Despite starting off the season hot, the Cougars are pumping the brakes on the hype machine. Both Baumholder and Hohenfels are restarting their programs this fall, so the Cougars expected to be 2-0.

On Friday comes a date with last year’s Division III runner-up in Spangdahlem, which also is 2-0 to start this campaign. Both Choate and Browne said that game will be a big test for Ansbach.

“Even though we got two wins, we need to be level-headed,” Browne said. “We got to be prepared and practice hard.”