LIVE STREAM: Spain’s Badalona Dracs Face Thonon Black Panthers From France
The Badalona Dracs, runaway leaders of the Spanish league being their European journey Saturday as they host French finalists the Thonon Black Panthers in Barcelona Saturday.
Dracs head coach Oscar Calatayud’s squad enters the game with a 4-0 record in Spain and an overwhelming 209-39 points advantage after four games. Quarterback Mike Box has thrown 17 touchdown passes and with receivers Robbie Jackson and Drew Clausen he has the offense purring. Running backs Joan Carles Bartra and Javier Fernandez are the ideal complement. On defense, defensive coordinator,
Defensive coordinator, Xus Fernández also has his charges finely tuned. Linebacker Kevin Duley leads a defensive unit which has been playing lights out football and it includes Javier Garcia, Jorge Camarena, Felipe Archilla, Ian Escoda and Luca Romeo.
The Black Panthers team they will face has undergone a major overhaul as head coach Skip Albano is in his first year with the team after the departure of long-time, highly successful bench boss Larry Legault. Also, the loss of running back Stephen Yepmo could hurt Thonon . The team has faltered coming out of the gate in the French league in 2016 dropping two straight games to the La Courneuve Flash from Paris and the Nice Dauphins.
Nevertheless, Thonon is always dangerous and new quarterback Sam Poulos has national team running back Andreas Betza in the backfield with him. In two games Betza has rushed for 235 yards. The Black Panthers reached the IFAF Europe Champions League semifinals in 2015 and 2014 and won the French championship in both 2013 and 2014.
The Dracs were runner-ups in this tournament two years ago, losing in the final to the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes.
This will be an exciting matchup.:Kickoff 5 PM (12 Noon EDT)
Kickoff 5 PM (12 Noon EDT)
The rest of the EFL schedule
April 9: Kiel Baltic Hurricanes vs. Amsterdam Crusaders Kilia Stadion
April 24: Hamburg Huskies vs. Kiel Baltic Hurricanes Hammer Stadium
May 7: Amsterdam Crusaders vs. Hamburg Huskies Sportpark Sloten
May 7: Thonon Black Panthers vs. Frankfurt Universe Stade Joseph Moynat
May 29: Frankfurt Universe vs. Badalona Dracs Frankfurter Volksbank Stadium