La Courneuve Flash defeat Rouen Leopards in French semifinals

| American Football | 06/13/2017

The first place La Courneuve Flash from Paris, have advanced to the 2017 French championship game – Casque de Diamant – by easily defeating the fourth place Rouen Leopards 40-16 this past weekend.

The Flash entered the game entered the game as the favorites having beaten Rouen twice during the regular season, 34-13 and 41-0.

Flash quarterback Paul Durand, who actually finished fourth in passing yardage during the regular season, finished with 223 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver Stephane Fortes caught five passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns while running back Arnaud M’Boutcha rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns as well.

Rouen scored early and late but not in between as quarterback Connor Reilly threw touchdown passes on the Leopards first possession and on the last with a field goal added in the first half.

The Flash move on to the Casque de Diamant on June 24. They will face the winner of this weekend’s other semifinal between the Thonon Black Panthers and the defending champion Saint Ouen L’Aumone Cougars.

Watch the highlights here!

Roger Kelly is an editor and a writer for AFI. A former PR Director the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League for 7 years, he now lives in Sweden writing about and scouting American Football throughout the world.