It was Week 7 of France’s FFFA (Fédération Française de Football Américain) Elite American football championship and two clubs surprisingly in the middle of the standings met at Stade Joseph Moynat in Thonon-les-bains Saturday night.
France’s defending champs the Thonon-les-bains Black Panthers (4-3) hosted Paris’s Flash de la Cournevue (3-4).These two teams have been struggling to meet their pre-season expectations and both needed a win this week.
Thonon’s RB Milton Knox Jr.
The Flash started the game strong when WR Yohann Rouat caught an 8-yard fade from QB Paul Durand for the first touchdown of the game. On the following drive, Thonon’s RB Milton Knox Jr. (pictured), who, after a great run, managed to shake off the Courneuvien’s defenders on a spin move and dashed into the end zone . The Black Panthers missed the PAT and the Flash still led 7-6.
The Flash scored on their next two drives when Durand found WR Mickaël Doukouré and WR Loïc Lesuperbe for touchdowns. At the break, the Flash were up 19-6.
Early in the second half the Flash has a touchdown called back and then turned the ball over on downs. The Black Panthers offense finally kicked into gear with QB Billy Greene and RB Stephen Yepmo leading the drive down the field. On a 3rd and 22, Knox caught a screen pass out of the backfield scoring his second TD of the game closing the gap to 19-12.
Thonon-les-bains v. Flash de la Courneuve
HightLights J7 : Black Panthers vs Flash (20 – 19) by blackpanthers-football
Visibly shaken, the Flash offensive squad stalled and had to punt for the first time in the match. Back on offense, Larry Legault’s Black Panthers found their running game, driving down inside the 10 yard line. Knox capped off the drive with a 9-yard TD run, his third of the game.
Thonon had to go for two and Green kept it, diving for the pylon and converting. The Black Panthers led for the first time all night 20-19.
The Flash still had two minutes left but Durand’s pass was intercepted by Rodrigue Aligenes to seal the win for Thonon..