France: Grizzlys Catalans clinch playoff berth with resilient win over Aix Argonautes

The Grizzlys Catalans (6-3-1) secured a vital 40-27 victory over the Aix Argonautes (3-6) at Stade Aimé Giral in Perpignan, punching their playoff ticket after a chaotic second half and a late collapse by the Marseille Blue Stars in their game against the Cannes Iron Mask.

Early setback highlights offensive resilience
The Grizzlys’ opening drive ended in frustration when a Sean Boswell touchdown was nullified by a penalty. Undeterred, QB Alexander Fromberg reignited the offense in the second quarter, threading a strike to Boswell for the game’s first score. RB Callum Davidson then bulldozed through the Argonautes’ defense for a TD, staking a 14-0 lead. But Aix’s Dominique Thompson snatched momentum with a TD catch from QB Jason Gaines just before halftime, trimming the deficit to 14-7.

Halftime tension sets stage for second-half drama
Aix surged post-break, with Gaines finding Timothée Guibert on a seam route to tie the game at 14-14. The Grizzlys responded immediately: Fromberg connected with WR Idriss Ramky for back-to-back 20+ yard gains, setting up Davidson’s second TD (21-14). The seesaw continued as Aix’s Alexandre Agnimel exploited a coverage lapse for a score, leveling the game at 21-21 late in the third quarter.

Second-half surge secures playoff-clinching win
The Grizzlys offense shifted gears, unleashing a 12-point blitz in six minutes. Boswell juked three defenders on a TD reception, followed by Davidson’s third score—a 3-yard plunge—after a botched Aix kickoff. RB Lucas Vidal added a rushing TD to extend the lead to 40-21. The Argonautes’s late rally, capped by Agnimel’s second TD, proved futile.

Playoff implications solidify amid late collapse
The Grizzlys’ win temporarily left their fate dependent on other results, but Marseille’s loss later that night sealed their postseason berth.

The Argonautes, eliminated from contention, face the Toulouse Ours in a season finale with seeding implications. Meanwhile, the Grizzlys enter the playoffs as a dark horse, buoyed by an impressive offensive outburst and newfound momentum. Their path—a testament to resilience—now shifts to containing Southern Conference powerhouses, starting with the Thonon Black Panthers.