LIVESTREAM: French Semifinals – Amiens Spartiates @Thonon Black Panthers, Sat. June 15, 7p CEDT (1p EDT)

AFI | American Football | 06/15/2019

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Amiens Spartiates head south to visit the unbeaten Thonon Black Panthers as the French Federation of American Football (Fédération Française de Football Américain) enters the semifinal stage of the 2019 season.

The Black Panthers finished the regular season in France with a 74-0 demolishing of the Bron-Villeurbanne Falcons. Thonon, first place finishers in the South, ended the year undefeated, averaging 42.5 points a game. Amiens finished second in the North with a 6-3-1 record and ran over the Grenoble Centaures in the wild card playoffs 45-7.

Thonon quarterback Clark Evans was the rushing leader in France with 1,012 yards but his backfield also includes very effective Swedish running back Kasper Wedberg who wound up with 673 yards, good for fourth. His receiving corps is talented with both Jefferson Alexandre (430 yds) and Damien Di Cursi able to stretch defenses.

The Spartiates returned to the top league in France after five seasons in Div. 2 and advanced to the playoffs after winning six of their last seven games, including the final two which ensured post season play. Amiens Spartiates RB Dylan Prajet finished 2nd overall in rushing after a late-season spurt and had 761 yards. Teammate Darius Dawsey wound up 5th with 652 yards. Amiens quarterback Clément Schaeffer did not throw much during the season finishing with 491 yards.

In the wild card win over Grenoble, the Spartiates ground game took center stage as they racked up 448 yards rushing with Valentin Priout leading the way with 173 yards and one touchdown while Prajet had 156 yards and two touchdowns. Schaeffer threw for a mere 70 yards.

This will be a tale of two powerful running games going head to head.