On Saturday, June 25, the regular season French D1 Elite Championship league champion from Conference A, the La Courneuve Flash, will take on a familiar foe when they host the Saint-ouen l’aumône Cougars in a matchup of two teams from the greater Paris area. There is a lot on the line in this semifinal game, as the winner will get a spot in the championship game while the loser will have their season end.
It is somewhat surprising that the Cougars made it to this point, as they finished just 5-5 in the regular season and were the underdog last week in their wild card game against the Catalans Grizzlys. However, they went on the road to Perpignan and took down the Grizzlys in a thrilling matchup by a score of 35-34. The game was tightly contested the entire way, as the score was tied at 13-13 going into halftime, and 28-28 at the end of the third quarter. The Cougars got the ball with under four minutes left at their own 15-yard line and managed to drive down the field. Quarterback Brody Hahn found Romain Caumont for a 16-yard touchdown with just 40 seconds left, and the extra point gave the Cougars a 35-28 lead. However, the defense could seal the deal, as the Grizzlys scored a touchdown with no time left on the clock in unlikely fashion. Catalans made the bold decision to go for two to win the game, but the pass fell incomplete thanks to great coverage from the Saint-ouen defense, and the Cougars moved on to the next round.
Flash QB Conor Miller looking downfield to pass Photo: Anna Shnaider
Now, the Cougars will take on a team that has beaten them twice this season. The Flash had no trouble downing the Cougars 44-20 in week 4, and then 41-21 in week 8. Though the games were not particularly close, the Flash were so dominant in the regular season that the Cougars gave them some of their toughest challenges. Now Saint-ouen is trying to do the unthinkable and defeat this dominant opponent.
To compete with the Flash, quarterback Brody Hahn will have to have a big day, which he has proven he is very capable of this season. The dual threat American has had some great
performances on the stat sheet in terms of passing and rushing. Though he is not a running back, he still ranks fifth in the league in rushing yards. On the other side, Flash quarterback
Conor Miller has also had a great season in his first campaign in France, as the offense averages nearly 45 points per game under his leadership. Running back Jason Bofunda, second in the league in rushing yards, has been a dominant force on the ground this season.
Saint-Ouen Cougars QB Brody Hahn battling with a Molosses defender Photo: @dash_pictures
La Courneuve can move the ball with ease through the air and on the ground, making them a tough task for any defense to stop. It remains to be seen if the Cougars are up to the challenge of competing with the Flash.