French Wild Card Playoff: Asnières Molosses rally from 14 down, stun Toulouse Ours to reach semifinals
The Asnières Molosses erased an early 14-point deficit to rout the Toulouse Ours 56-30 in a French D1 Elite wild-card thriller, overcoming a shaky start with a dominant second-half surge to advance to a semifinal clash against the Thonon-les-Bains Black Panthers.
Early Ours surge fades as Molosses counterpunch
The Ours capitalized on a Brody Hahn interception and a goal-line stand to seize a 14-0 lead, with quarterback Braden Howell scrambling for a touchdown. But the Molosses responded swiftly: running back Kevin Momnohin bulldozed in for a rushing TD and later hauled in a scoring catch to tie the game 14-14. A back-and-forth first half ended with Toulouse clinging to a 24-21 lead despite losing receiver Adam Delamare to injury.
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Halftime lead masks brewing storm
Momentum swung decisively after halftime. Asnières quarterback Hahn atoned for his early mistake with a 60-yard touchdown sprint, sparking a 22-point third-quarter explosion. The Molosses’ defense stifled Toulouse’s attack, forcing punts and turnovers, while Momnohin and receiver Blanchard Mbuku (46-yard TD) stretched the lead to 43-24.
Hahn’s heroics ignite second-half avalanche
Hahn’s dual-threat mastery sealed the rout, as he connected with Mbuku for a backbreaking 50-yard score (50-30) before handing off to Kevin Saint-Hubert for the exclamation-point TD. The Molosses outscored Toulouse 35-6 in the second half, exploiting defensive breakdowns and a weary Ours unit.
Semifinal showdown awaits
The Molosses advance to face the reigning champion Black Panthers, seeking their first D1 title. For Toulouse, the loss extends their playoff misery (0-3 all-time) but doesn’t diminish a breakout season that defied low preseason expectations.
Key Performances:
- Asnières: Brody Hahn (2 total TDs), Kevin Momnohin (2 TDs), Blanchard Mbuku (receiving TD).
- Toulouse: Braden Howell (rushing TD, early interception).
Turning Point: Hahn’s 60-yard third-quarter TD run shifted momentum irreversibly, sparking a 35-6 Molosses run.
Historical Context: Asnières’ 56 points mark their highest playoff output since 2021, while Toulouse’s defensive collapse (42 second-half points allowed) underscores growing pains.
