The Thonon Black Panthers (1-0) finally opened their 2019 season in France and they did so with a vengeance, destroying the Aix-en-Provence Argonautes (0-2) 51-0.
The Black Panthers had traveled down to Montpellier the week before only to have the game cancelled at the last minute. Needless to say, the team was frustrated and they took it out on the Argonautes.
Thonon quarterback Clark Evans was a man on a mission completing 16 of 21 passes for 198 yards and five touchdowns while leading the team in rushing with 132 yards on 11 carries.
In fact, the Black Panthers racked up 296 yards rushing with Mike Correia gaining 60 and a touchdown, Meril Paul Zero 58 and a touchdown, and Swedish running back Kasper Wedberg 46 yards. Benjamin Plu led all receivers with six catches for 61 yards and three touchdown receptions, while Leo Sarteel added three receptions for 60 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Black Panthers RB Meril Paul Zero Photo: Guillaume Mouchet
Other scores
In other action, the Asnieres Molosses (2-0) stunned the reigning champion La Courneuve Flash (0-1) beating them 9-2. The Saint-Ouen Cougars (1-1) blanked the Amiens Spartiates (0-1) 10-0 while the newly promoted Evry Corsaires (1-0) rumbled over the Rouen Leopards (0-1) 38-7.
Marseille Blue Stars DB Sacha Memran recorded 3 interceptions, returning one for a TD in win over Bron-Villeurbanne Falcons
The Marseille Blue Stars (2-0) showed why they were French semifinalists in 2018 with a 49-8 thumping of the Bron-Villeurbanne Falcons (0-2) and the Montpellier Hurricanes (1-0) downed the Grenoble Centaures (1-1) 46-25.