The Grizzlys Catalans (3-1) will play host to the Nice Dauphins (3-1-1) Sunday, April 2 in the most anticipated matchup of the weekend in the French D1 Elite league.
The last time these two teams met, the Grizzlys came away with a surprise 20-15 win on the road.
Catalans had opened the season with a tough 26-14 loss to the division leading Marseilles Blue Stars before the victory over Nice. They then played the Toulouse Ours to a 21-21 tie before beating the Aix Argonautes 14-7 and the Grenoble Centaures 28-26. The Dauphins opened their year with a 36-3 shellacking of the Centaures before the loss to the Grizzlys but then beat Toulouse 13-6 and the Argonautes 24-7.
The Grizzlys, under head coach Enver Ramovic, and led by quarterback Jagger Laroe (Ohio State Buckeyes) could be a tough nut to crack for the visitors. Laroe seems to have found a chemistry with Canadian wide receiver Jonathan Breton Robert and with last year’s DI leading receiver, Idriss Ramky, and a loaded receiver corps which includes Aymeric Guillemaud, the Grizzlys will be stubborn opponent for the visitors.
The Dauphins have returned to France’s top division for the first time in six seasons and are led by national team quarterback Sullivan Silverio and linebacker Benjamin Touati who heads up a stingy defense that has allowed only 9 points a game.
This game is as evenly matched as they come so tough to predict. The Grizzlys have not lost a game since their opener against Marseilles but the Nice defense has been impressive. Although we have only reached mid-season, the winner of this one will get a leg up in the standings.
Nice Dauphins @ Catalans Grizzlys, April 2, 13:00 CET (1 pm, 7 am EDT)
