France – End-of-Season Stats Leaders can be difference makers

The final passing, receiving and rushing stats for the season in France are out and there was one major change as the playoffs loom this weekend.

There is a new passing leader as Rouen Leopards quarterback Connor Reilly took over the lead with a 325 yard passing performance in the final regular season game of the year against La Queue en Brie Gladiateurs.  With the improving play of the Leopards, their semifinal opponents, the La Courneuve Flash need to be prepared. Reilly can make a difference.

Mickael Doukoure  of  La Courneuve Flash and his teammate, Stéphane Fortes,  are one and two in the receiving category. This makes the Flash an imposing threat for the Leopards as the playoffs loom this weekend.

The Thonon Black Panthers welcomed the return of the country’s leading rusher, Andreas Betza, who finished first and could well lead his team to the championship final.

Passing

Rouen Leopards QB Connor Reilly finished the year as the leading passer and is one of the reasons Rouen made the playoffs in their first year in France’s top division. He has thrown for 2,707 yards and a league leading 31 touchdowns.He had a 160.54 QB rating, by far the best in France. Despite missing the last two games of the year, St. Ouen l’Aumône Cougars quarterback De’Auntre Smiley finished the year as the second leading passer in France with 2,545 yards passing. Moses Skillon is in third with his seventh place Bron-Villeurbanne Falcons and after putting up 377 yards against the Argonautes wound up with 1,956 yards.  La Courneuve Flash QB Paul Durand finished fourth with 1,537 yards and 23 TDs. Jeremy Duponchelle of the last place La Queue-en-Brie Gladiateurs is in fifth with 1,400 yards.

Receiving

With 88 yards against the Cougars, Flash receiver Mickael Doukoure finished the season as the top receiver in France with 765 yards. Doukoure’s teammate Stéphane Fortes, was right behind in 2nd with 747 yards. Falcons receiver Cyprien Virot moved into 3rd with 705 yards after a 118 yard performance in the last game of the year against the Argonautes. .St. Ouen l’Aumône Cougars wide receiver Herve Omgba finished fourth with 673 yards and Oktay Tulan of the Rouen Leopards finished fifth with 613 yards.  

Rushing

Despite missing two regular season games, Black Panthers running back Andreas Betza finished as the top rusher in France in 2017 with his 1,211 yards, 21 rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown. The 2016 rushing leader, Rondell White of the Nice Dauphins, despite playing receiver for the final three games, still finished a solid second with 943 yards.  Amaud MBouthcha of La Courneuve Flash moved into 3rd and now has 722  yards. Argonautes running back Cody Acker rushed for 207 yards in the final regular season game against the Falcons to finish the year as the 4th leading rusher in France. His teammate and quarterback Jimmie Russell wound up 5th with 693 yards rushing.