La Courneuve Flash alone at #1 atop French American football

| American Football | 05/15/2017

The top two teams in France met in Thonon-les-bains, France on Saturday and only one would leave calling themselves number one.

Both teams took a 7-1 record into this match, but it was La Courneuve’s Flash that came out victorious (35-21) in the duel against the Black Panthers of Thonon-les-Bains.

The Flash opened the game with a long drive that ended with Flash quarterback Paul Durand finding tight end Kevin Mwamba wide open in the flat for a 13-yard score. The team from Paris extended their lead to 14-0 on a lucky break when a tipped ball fell into the hands of Flash receiver Sofiane Mahmoudi, who raced for the end-zone.

The Black Panthers got on the board in the second quarter when running back Willy Zodeougan found room on a sweep from 10 yards out. The Black Panthers drew even on their next possession when Thonon quarterback Sam Poulos connected with receiver Jefferson Alexandre deep over the middle for a 67-yard touchdown. Shortly before half-time, the Flash marched down the field and Durand hit receiver Mickaël Doukouré for a 3-yard score with :39 on the clock. The Flash defense stepped up and an errant Poulos throw was picked off at the Thonon 45-yard line with :17 seconds left in the half. After a defensive penalty and with no time left on the clock, Durand tossed a ‘Hail Mary’ to Stephane Fortes who landed in the end-zone with the ball. Touchdown Flash.

Leading 28-14 at halftime, the visitors also controlled the second half. In the third quarter, Durand found receiver Doukouré on a 65-yard bomb. With five minutes before the end of the game, quarterback Poulos threw a 24-yard pass to Vincent Bégout for a Black Panthers touchdown.

Down two TDs late in the game, the Thonon couldn’t manage to score again leaving the final score 35-21.

The Flash are now alone atop the FFFA’s Elite Championnat at 8-1 and, with only one week left in the regular season, should clinch the top Elite playoff seed. On May 27th, the Flash host the defending champions Saint-Ouen-l’Aumone Cougars who sit in third at 5-3.

Watch the replay of the game below.


Black Panthers VS Le Flash : Journée 8 : Elite… by blackpanthers-football

John McKeon is a former professional and collegiate American Football player and coach now living and working in New York. His goal is to spread news, information, and opinion on the global growth of the sport he loves.