On Sunday, June 7th, the American football championship of France began their Elite playoffs. At the Parc des Sports in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône outside of Paris, the St. Ouen Cougars entered the match unbeaten in the regular season and hosted the Flash de la Courneuve. Check out the a summary of the meeting on video by Vox Stadium.
Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône Cougars (9-0-1) v. La Courneuve Flash (5-5)
Last Sunday afternoon at at the Parc des Sports in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône, France’s top team took down the Flash de la Courneuve for the third time this season. Playing without their American running back Marcus Shaw, who was ejected following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, the Flash’s ground game was taken over by rookie Mario Danial, and veteran Laurent Marceline, 36, who was playing his last game in the colors of black and yellow. The Cougars entered the game pumped, and with a near-perfect regular season record.
The semifinal quickly for Xavier Mas‘s Cougar team when on their first series, QB Tanner Price found Michael Serre in the end zone and for the first touchdown of the game.
Down 0-7, the Flash catches some bad luck when Mario Daniel is injury on the first offensive play. The La Courneuve drive goes nowhere and they punt it away. Back on offense, the Cougars conclude another impressive drive with a TD by Tanner Price. The QB delivers his 2nd touchdown pass of the game, this time to David Rosette.
On the ensuring drive, Flash QB Paul Durand tries to find his go-to-guy, Mickaël Doukouré but the pass is a little too high for the receiver and it intercepted by the Cougars LB Carl Tembo (photo). The linebacker return the interception 44 yards into the end zone to complete the pick six.
The Flash who find themselves down 21 points, but finally respond through their defense. Cougars’s QB Price is struck by Averdie Mizius while in the pocket and the ball lands in the hands of the Flash’s Souleymane Karamoko. Starting their drive on the Cougar’s 32, the Flash QB Durand immediately finds Yohann Rouat on a TD pass.
This score gave the Flash some hope before going into the locker room. However, they were not counting on Tanner Price to perfectly manage a minute drill before halftime. Under pressure from Flash defender Arnaud Mboutcha, Price manages to find Isaac Amoako who takes it to the 1 yard line. With only 3 seconds before halftime, Price takes it in himself. At the break, the Cougars lead 27-7.
In second half, the Flash start with better intentions, and are very effective in the air. At the end of the third quarter, QB Paul Durand is able to connect with WR Steve Delaval. A play that allows the Flash decrease the deficit to 27-14.
Unfortunately for the team of Patrick Cark, Tanner Price is in supersonic form and leads his team and drains the clock by numerous running plays (16 rushe, 175 yards). The Flash defense still manage to stop the Cougars who settle for a field goal converted by Sébastien Torel.
Never giving up, La Courneuve quickly scores when Durand and Delaval connect again. But this situation that is not to the liking of Tanner Price. The former QB of Wake Forest University finds the resources to drive and deliver a superb scoring pass to David Rosette, rookie WR of the Cougars, (7 receptions, 112 yards and 2 TD).
Loïc Lesuperbe will again reduce the deficit for the Flash, but it was too little too late.
Final score 37-26. With the win the Cougars qualify for the French Casque de Diamant Elite Championship for the first time in their history.
Box Score
1QT |
2QT |
3QT |
4QT |
Score final |
|
 |
7 | 20 | 0 | 10 | 37 |
 Flash |
0 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 26 |
TD Cougars : Michael Serre, David Rosette (2), Carl Tembo, Tanner Price / Field Goal : Sébastien Torel
TD Flash : Yohann Rouat, Steve Delaval (2), Loïc Lesuperbe