The Thonon Black Panthers, defending French champions, find themselves facing the Nice Dauphins as the French D1 Elite league enters the Wild Card round.
The Black Panthers had, for them, a mediocre season finishing with a record of 4-3-1 in Conference A, while Nice won three of their last four games to finish third in Conference B, with a record of 5-5.
The last time these two teams faced each other in the playoffs was in 2014 when Thonon blanked the Dauphins 38-0 in the semifinals.
The Black Panthers averaged 27 points a game while surrendering 15.1. Nice struggled offensively this season scoring an average of just 16 points a contest. It was their defense that kept them in games holding opponents to just over 13 points a game.
Thonon quarterback K’Hari Lane wound up fourth in passing this season having thrown for 1,493 yards and 19 touchdowns against just two interceptions. Wide receiver Odell Turnbull led the Black Panthers with 28 receptions for 458 yards and five touchdowns. Lucas DAVOINE was Thonon’s leading rusher with 64 carries for 320 yards and four touchdowns.
Dauphins quarterback Sullivan Silverio threw for 1.180 yards and seven scores but also tossed six interceptions. His favorite target was Marin Teham Teham who hauled in 29 passes for 369 yards and one score. Nicolas Marin Romero rushed for 409 yards and three touchdowns on 102 carries.
For the Dauphins this will be a difficult challenge. They are facing one of the most experienced and successful teams in France over the past decade.
Advantage: Thonon.
