France: A few surprises among stats leaders after 3 rounds

AFI | American Football | 03/18/2022

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

As France’s D1 Elite Championship League heads into its fourth weekend of play, let’s take a look back at the stats leaders in the key categories of passing, rushing and receiving yardage and defensive tackles.

Of the 12 teams in the North and South Divisions, eight are represented on these lists. The Catalan Grizzlys top the list with five players while both the Aix Argonautes and Marseille Blue Stars have four each. The Saint-Ouen Cougars and Montpellier Hurricanes each have two players while the league-leading La Courneuve Flash, Thonon Black Panthers and Toulouse Ours have one apiece. Teams without player representation among the Top 5 include the Amiens Spartiates, Asnieres Molosses, and Villeneuve d’Ascq Vikings from the North as well as the South Division’s Grenoble Centaures.

Passing

The Aix Argonautes are unbeaten and boast the third best offense in France led by QB Michael Pina who has thrown for 968 yards and a league-best 12 TDs. Not far behind him though is the Catalan Grizzlys QB Jake Purichia with 924 yards. The 3rd place passer so far this season is Brody Hahn of the Saint-Ouen Cougars who has thrown for 693 yards while Marseille Blue Stars pivot Kaleb Scott is 4th with 564 yards. Conor Miller, QB for the La Courneuve Flash, leads the top offense in France and has thrown for a modest 534 yards in three games.

Receiving

Catalan Grizzlys WR Idriss Ramky has been unstoppable for opposing defensive secondaries and has 467 yards receiving in three games. Following him in 2nd spot is Pedro Rosa of the Aix Argonautes with 309 yards while Jeff Alexandre of the Saint-Ouen Cougars is 3rd with 276 yards. Marseille Blue Stars WR Vincent Monteiro is 4th with 274 while Argonautes WR Micel Boutin is 5th. He has 266 yards on 20 receptions.

Rushing

One of the keys to the Argonautes offense is RB Corentin Ducatillon and he leads all rushers in France with 58 carries for 317 yards and 4 TDs. Behind him and a distant 2nd is Montpellier Hurricanes RB Scotty Sonetti who has rushed for 209 yards on 22 carries. Not far behind in 3rd is Toulouse Ours RB Gerald Childs who had 24 carries for 203 yards while Luka Jaune of the Blue Stars is 4th with 194 yards. Catalan RB ozni Adramann is 5th with 187 yards on 39 carries.

Tackles

Marseille Blue Stars LB Eddy Abdullah leads a defense that has allowed a mere 7 points in three games and leads the league with 27.5 tackles which includes 3 sacks. Catalan LB Terence Correia has 25.5 good for 2nd while Gaspard Morch of the Montpellier Hurricanes is 3rd with 23.5 tackles. Benjamin Mulindahabi of the Thonon Black Panthers is 4th while Grizzlys LB Luk Coh rounds out the Top 5 with 19 tackles so far this season.