France: Thonon Black Panthers score late to get by Asnieres Molosses in thriller

In a see saw battle which saw the lead change multiple times, the defending French champion Thonon Black Panthers scored with less than a minute to go to defeat the Asnieres Molosses 28-27 for a huge road victory.

The #2 and 3 teams in the French D1 Elite league put on a back-and-forth show that kept the crowd at Stade Blaise Matuidi in Paris on their feet the entire game.

Asnieres open the scoring halfway through the first quarter after taking advantage of a goal line interception by Molosses linebacker Kevin Fortes who returned it all the way to the Thonon two yard line. Two plays later quarterback Brody Hahn tossed a touchdown pass to wide receiver Blanchard Mbuku to give the home team a 7-0 lead.

Thonon answered early in the second quarter when Benjamin Lolmède caught a six yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jose Tabora Jr to tie the game up at 7-7. Just minutes later, Lolmède struck again, getting in behind the Molosses secondary and hauling in a 53 yard pass from Tabora to give the Black Panthers a 13-7 lead after missing the PAT.

Asnieres wasted no time as wide receiver Mahmoud Gharsallah caught a 30 yard pass from Hahn in the corner of the end zone to tie the game at 13-13. The PAT was good as the Molosses took a 14-13 lead going into the break.

The Molosses defense rose up again early in the third quarter as Mathis Delobel picked off Tabora at the Thonon 27 yard line on the opening drive. Three plays later Hahn scrambled and then found Julian Leroy at the back of the end zone to boost the lead to 20-13.

Again Thonon responded on the very next possession as Tabora marched his team from his own 10 down to the Molosses 13 yard line and then tossed to tight end Odell Turnbull who barged his way into the end zone to tie the game at 20-20 going into the final period.

Neither team go gain any momentum until, with just under four minutes remaining Asnieres pounced on a fumble by Black Panthers running back Lucas Davoine at the Thonon 33 yard line. Two plays later, running back Kevin Momnohin scooped up a fumble by Hahn, got to the outside and raced 20 yards to score with two minutes left in the game.

With Asnieres ahead 27-20, Tabora marched his team down to the Molosses three yard line using both his feet and arm. He then found Liam Ward to pull to within 27-26 with 39 seconds left. He hit Turnbull for the two-point conversion and the Black Panthers took a 28-27 lead.

The Molosses offense could not advance and the game ended with Hahn getting sacked at the 50 yard line.

With the win, Thonon (4-1) keeps right behind the conference leading and unbeaten 5-0 La Courneuve Flash. Molosses drops to 3-1-2.