The Marseille Blue Stars’ undefeated season will be put to the test on Sunday when they host the Catalan Grizzlys as France’s D1 Elite winds up its fifth weekend of play.
Marseille has looked unstoppable to this point as they are 4-0 and have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 174-14.
The Grizzlys sit behind Marseille in Conference B with a record of 3-1. After dropping their first game to the Argonautes by a score of 49-35, they have strung together three straight victories, most recently beating Grenoble 34-12.
The Blue Stars’ last game was a 35-7 win over the Argonautes, the only team to beat Catalan. Marseille enters the game as the favorite, but an upset victory by Catalan is not out of the question.
Catalan Grizzlys @ Marseille Blue Stars, March 27, 14:00 CET (2 pm, 08:00 am ET)
The Grizzlys have been led by a lethal passing attack. Quarterback Jacob Puricia leads the league in passing yards with 1,172 in four games for an average of 293 yards per game. He also boasts an impressive ratio of 13 touchdowns to 2 interceptions. Additionally, the top two receivers in the league play for Catalan. Idriss Ramky is having an incredible season so far, with 34 catches for 520 yards and five touchdowns to this point. In second place in receiving yards in the league is Ramky’s teammate Sean Boswell, who has 380 yards. He has been Catalan’s main red zone threat, as he leads the team in touchdowns with seven. The Grizzlys’ leading rusher is Onzo Adramann, who has 255 yards and 5 touchdowns in three games. Zaire Ugapo has been a standout on defense, as he leads the league with six sacks.
Marseille’s quarterback, Kaleb Scott, has had a solid start to the year, with 695 yards passing and nine touchdowns in three games. His favorite target has been Vincent Monteiro, who has 274 yards and four touchdowns. The Blue Stars rely on their ground game more than the Grizzlys do. Florian Angelini, the lead running back, is second in the league in rushing yards with 352, while his teammate Luka Yellow ranks sixth in the league with 257 yards. Defensively, Eddy Abdullah has been their leader, topping the league in tackles with 23 and adding three sacks. The Blue Stars’ strength as a team is their defensive front, as three of the top six sack leaders play for Marseille (Fayade Said, Noahs Bagreaux, and Abdullah).
The key for this game will likely be the battle in the trenches, especially when Catalan has the ball. If Marseille’s defense can disrupt Puricia, they have a great chance of winning the game. If not, Puricia and his receivers will light up the Blue Star secondary and could carry the Grizzlys to the upset.
Watch the game live here. Catalan Grizzlys @ Marseille Blue Stars, March 27, 14:00 CET (2 pm, 08:00 am ET)