LIVESTREAM France – Game of the Week: Thonon Black Panthers @ La Courneuve Flash, April 27, 19:00 CET (7 pm, 1 pm EDT)

AFI | American Football | 04/27/2024

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Thonon Black Panthers (2-2-1) travel north to Paris to face the conference-leading La Courneuve Flash (4-1) in the Game of the Week in the French D1 Elite league Saturday, April 21.

The Flash defeated Asnieres 21-14 in the first game of the year. After that victory, La Courneuve defeated the Black Panthers, 21-7 in Game #2 but then suffered a surprising 14-13 loss to the Saint-Ouen Cougars. They followed that by beating the Rouen Leopards 20-7 and the Asnieres Molosses 24-19.

The Black Panthers season has not been ideal for them so far as they currently sit on a 2-2-1 record with a loss to the Flash 31-7 before a matchup with Rouen which saw both teams walk away with 34 points on the board and a draw. They then played to another tie, this time against the Asnieres Molosses, 35-35.Their two wins have come against the Cougars who they beat 42-0 and 46-0.

Thonon quarterback K’Hari Lane (Fayetteville State) who took over from Jose Tabora Jr., has become one of the leading passers in France throwing for 988 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has combined with receivers Felix Durand, Leo Sarsteel, and Benjamin Lolomede along with tight end Odel Turnbull to produce one of the top two offenses in the league.

Defensively, the Black Panthers are led by Valentine Roesch and Abedel Bafdile along with talented defensive back Tyron Smile.

Flash quarterbacks Leo Cremades (418 yards) and Badis Grami(345 yards) have combined for 763 passing yards so far with Stephane Fortes their leading target with 16 catches for 324 yards and three scores. Running back François-Guilhem Pion has been a force for La Courneuve with 72 carries for 442 yards and four touchdowns. Judson Saint-Louis has rushed for 214 yards to give the Flash a one-two punch at running back. The Flash defense will be the key to this game. They are holding opponents to just 12 points a game.