The Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns will face likely their toughest opponent of the year so far when the La Courneuve Flash from Paris, France, pay a visit to Optima Sportpark on Saturday, June 4 as the Central European Football League semifinals kick off.
This is a clash of titans with both teams having dominated their opposition so far. Schwäbisch Hall hammered Sweden’s Örebro Black Knights 58-7 while the Flash whipped the Badalona Dracs from Spain 49-7 and rolled over French rivals, the Thonon Black Panthers, 45-27. The Unicorns had earned a bye into the quarterfinals as defending champions.
In the win over Örebro, Unicorns quarterback Reilly Hennessey completed 23 of 39 passes for 399 yards and four touchdowns with Tyler Rutenbeck his main target with six receptions for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Hennessey managed to spread the ball around in that game, connecting with eight different receivers. Maurice Schüle was the leading rusher with nine carries for 61 yards and a touchdown. In his two German Football League blowout wins, Hennessey has thrown for 576 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Unicorns will be facing the undefeated leader of the French D1 Elite Championship in the Flash. La Courneuve, behind the performance of quarterback Conor Miller, has also dominated all opposition, not only in the CEFL but in France. They top the French North conference with a 9-0 record having outscored the opposition 476 to 70. Miller, who usually leaves the games at halftime, has completed 60% of his passes in throwing for 1,222 yards and 17 touchdowns while running back Jason Bofunda has rushed for 643 yards and nine scores.
The winner of this game will advance to the CEFL Championship Game where they will face either the Calanda Broncos from Switzerland or Italy’s Parma Panthers.
