EFA: Frankfurt Galaxy climb into third with 31-24 road win over Paris Musketeers

The Frankfurt Galaxy (3-3) climbed back into the heart of the European Football Alliance playoff race Sunday, knocking off the Paris Musketeers (3-3) 31-24 at Essonne Stadium to move into third place in the league standings.

After dropping a heartbreaking 21-20 decision to Paris in the season opener, the Galaxy returned the favor with their most complete performance of the season. Quarterback Ethan Garbers threw four touchdown passes, the defense piled up six sacks, and Frankfurt weathered a late rally to secure its third win in the last four games.

Fast start

The visitors wasted little time making their intentions clear.

Garbers engineered a 70-yard opening drive before finding Brevin Easton for a 17-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Paris answered almost immediately as Zach Edwards connected with Cheikhou Sow on a 50-yard scoring strike, although the missed extra point left the Musketeers trailing by a point.

Momentum briefly swung to the home side early in the second quarter. Edwards followed a 73-yard completion to Yann Yaman by finding Hugo Tekedam for an 11-yard touchdown, giving Paris its first lead at 13-7.

The advantage didn’t last.

Ryan Rimmler drilled a 46-yard field goal before Garbers calmly led a two-minute drive that ended with a four-yard touchdown pass to Paul Kavadia Lenhardt with just three seconds remaining in the half, sending Frankfurt into the locker room ahead 17-13.

Galaxy seize control

The game turned after halftime.

While Garbers continued to pick apart the Paris secondary, the Galaxy defense took over at the line of scrimmage. Edwards was under constant pressure, absorbing six sacks as Frankfurt steadily took control.

Garbers opened the third-quarter scoring with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Adria Botella Moreno before connecting with Tyler Foster from 18 yards out only minutes later. What had been a four-point game quickly became a 31-13 Galaxy lead.

Garbers finished 27-of-35 for 273 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. His favorite targets were Paul Kavadia Lenhardt, who caught seven passes for 60 yards and a score, Brevin Easton with six receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown, Adria Botella Moreno with five catches for 51 yards and a score, and Nico Strahmann, who added 62 receiving yards.

Paris fights back

To their credit, the Musketeers never let the game get away from them.

Edwards, who completed 21 of 38 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns, kept attacking downfield. Yann Yaman finished with six catches for 127 yards, while Hugo Tekedam added six receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. Hassane Dosso contributed 51 receiving yards, and Lokmen Nadjem caught a seven-yard touchdown before Edwards ran in the two-point conversion to trim the deficit to 31-21.

Dean Faithfull’s 35-yard field goal pulled Paris within a touchdown with just over a minute to play, but the comeback stalled when Frankfurt recovered the ensuing onside kick. On the game’s final snap, Thiadric Hansen recovered a Musketeers fumble to officially seal the victory.

The ground game was limited on both sides. Frankfurt managed 55 net rushing yards, led by Antony Marvyn Boue’s 38 yards, while Paris finished with 35 net yards, with Edwards accounting for 20 and Jason Bofunda adding 10.

The victory moves the Frankfurt Galaxy into third place in the European Football Alliance standings, while the Paris Musketeers now face increased pressure with four regular-season games remaining.