LIVESTREAM France: Amiens Spartiates @ Thonon Black Panthers, May 7, 19:00 CET (7 pm, 1 pm ET)

AFI | American Football | 05/07/2022

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Thonon Black Panthers (6-1) will host the Amiens Spartiates (3-4) in a crucial matchup in the French D1 Elite Championship league Saturday, May 7.

The Black Panthers are the defending French champions and after falling 35-0 to the Flash in the opening week, they have bounced back with six straight wins, beating the Cougars 28-27 and rolling over the Vikings in week 3 by a score of 53-0. They then doubled up on the Amiens Spartiates, 42-21 before beating the Asnieres Molosses 21-6 last month. They downed the Saint-Ouen Cougars 35-14 and dominated the Asnieres Molosses 34-15. In other words, this is a team on a roll.

After winning their two first games Amiens has had a tough season. They opened by beating Asnieres Molosses 19-14 and followed that with a 20-13 win over Villeneuve d’Ascq Vikings. Then they lost 63-0 to the La Courneuve Flash, 42-21 to Thonon, and 45-7 to the Saint-Ouen Cougars. They came back with a 49-20 victory over the Vikings and then dropped a a 42-14 loss to the Cougars. With three games to go, they will be hard pressed to catch the Cougars for third in the North and a berth in the wild card playoffs so today’s matchup is crucial.

Thonon also earned a hard-fought 12-6 victory over Spain’s Las Rozas Black Demons a month ago in Central European Football League play.

Thonon quarterback Brett Hunchak has struggled at times and has only thrown for 923 yards and 12 touchdowns in six games but has yet to be intercepted. Running back Nicolas Khandar is the third leading rusher in the league with 54 carries for 450 yards and eight touchdowns.

The Black Panthers boast the second leading tackler in Benjamin Mulindahabi who has recorded 40.5 tackles in the second-best defense in Conference A.

Spartiates quarterback Cornelius Kinchen, who has thrown for 1,135 yards and 11 touchdowns in six games will have to step up. His leading receiver, D Angelo Chesson, has caught 23 passes for 430 yards and five touchdowns, good for seventh overall.