Paris Musketeers earn away win over Hamburg Sea Devils

| American Football | 08/22/2023

This Sunday saw the Paris Musketeers travel to face the Hamburg Sea Devils, coming away with a 29-19 win.

After Paris ended their first possession with a punt, Hamburg turned the ball over; Moritz Maack looked for Malik Stanley over the middle, instead finding Musketeers linebacker Dauson Dales who ran the ball back past the halfway line.

This interception set up Paris for their first score of the game, as some completions to the likes of Adria Botella Moreno allowed QB Zach Edwards to punch in the score from a yard out. 

Similarly, Hamburg’s first score came as a result of a turnover as Berend Grube forced and recovered a fumble from Paris RB Jason Aguemon deep in Musketeers territory. Following this, Maack found Stanley by way of an improvised underhand pass to put six on the board for the Sea Devils. 

After a few exchanges in possession put the ball back in the hands of the Sea Devils, they managed to put another score on the Musketeers as Maack rolled right and heaved a ball to a wide-open Stanley, earning the German side a 65-yard touchdown to put them up 13-6.

The Musketeers soon responded with another score of their own, showing their creativity offensively; Edwards dumped the ball backwards to Kyle Sweet, who then threw the ball to Botella Moreno for the touchdown, before an Edwards-Sweet two-point conversion put the score at 14-13 in favor of the visitors.

The next score came towards the end of the half as Hamburg’s Eric Schlomm split the uprights from 42 yards out, putting the Sea Devils at a 16-14 advantage at the break.

Second half scoring opened up with a Musketeers touchdown as Edwards hit Sweet with a perfect over-the-shoulder ball towards the back corner of the endzone, putting Paris back on top. Yet another Edwards/Sweet connection further increased their lead with another successful two-point conversion, making the score 22-16.

Hamburg responded with a 50-yard field-goal from Schlomm, bringing the deficit to just three points as the game entered its final period. The fourth quarter, however, opened with a Musketeers score with an excellent throw on the run from Edwards downfield to Remi Bertellin, followed by a successful PAT kick. 

After a three-and-out from the Sea Devils, Hamburg’s Crosby managed to pick off Edwards on the sideline to regain possession in the closing minutes. Unfortunately they were unable to capitalize, with their last offensive play being a missed field goal. Paris took the ball back with just under seven minutes remaining and managed to earn enough yardage to successfully chew the clock and take their fourth win of the season.

A current student at Bournemouth University as well as a quarterback with eight years of playing experience. Brad's goal is to be a part of the growth of the game around the world through journalism and media.