Munich Ravens remain perfect with 45-22 win over Paris Musketeers

The Munich Ravens extended their perfect season to nine games with a 45-22 victory over the Paris Musketeers at uhlsport Park in Unterhaching, Germany, on Sunday. Quarterback Russell Tabor threw for 351 yards and five touchdowns as Munich controlled the game after a 3-3 opening quarter and handed Paris another costly defeat in the race for the EFA BIG4 Playoff Weekend.

Paris entered the game at 3-5 and badly needing a result, but Munich’s balanced offense eventually proved too much. The Ravens finished with 484 total yards, converted both of their fourth-down attempts and scored on all six of their trips inside the Paris red zone. They also held the ball for 35 minutes and 32 seconds.

Ravens seize control before halftime

The afternoon did not begin perfectly for the Ravens. Paris sacked Tabor twice on Munich’s opening possession, and an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty pushed the home team backward in the red zone. Michael Stadler still finished the 11-play drive with a 34-yard field goal. The Musketeers answered with a long, methodical possession of their own, and Dean Faithfull tied the game with a 52-yard field goal just before the end of the first quarter.

Munich took control in the second period. Tabor found Louis Geyer for a 43-yard touchdown to complete a 68-yard drive, then returned to Geyer on fourth-and-goal for a seven-yard score that made it 17-3. Paris responded late in the half when Zach Edwards connected with Torin Justice for a 27-yard touchdown, although Etuale Lui blocked the extra point.

The Ravens then delivered one of the decisive sequences of the game. With only 49 seconds remaining before halftime, Tabor completed passes of 12, 16 and 38 yards before finding Malik Stanley for a six-yard touchdown with six seconds left. Instead of going to the locker room with the momentum, Paris trailed 24-9.

Munich answers every challenge

Munich continued to dictate the game after the break. A 12-play, 68-yard drive consumed almost seven minutes and ended with Tabor’s five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Philip Okonkwo. Paris put together an 85-yard drive spanning the third and fourth quarters, with Edwards finding Liam Ward for an 18-yard touchdown, but the Ravens answered almost immediately.

Benedikt Pohler broke a 51-yard run on Munich’s next possession, setting up Ron Tiavaasue’s one-yard touchdown plunge for a 38-16 lead. Edwards and Justice combined again for a 30-yard score midway through the fourth quarter, but the two-point attempt failed. Munich closed the scoring with 16 seconds remaining when Tabor threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Sixten Dragan.

Balanced offense delivers

Tabor completed 26 of 30 passes without an interception and spread the ball among nine receivers. Geyer led Munich with 102 yards and two touchdowns on five catches, while Stanley caught six passes for 76 yards and a score. Pohler added 92 rushing yards on 11 carries, including the 51-yard burst in the fourth quarter.

Edwards completed 18 of 26 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns, also without an interception, but the Ravens sacked him four times and limited Paris to 56 net rushing yards. Justice was the Musketeers’ most productive player, finishing with seven catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns.

Looking ahead

The Homecoming victory, played amid the Ravens’ traditional Bavarian-themed festivities, improved Munich to 9-0 ahead of its regular-season finale against Nordic Storm. Paris fell to 3-6 and now faces even greater pressure in its final game at the Raiders Tirol as it tries to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Scoring summary

First Quarter

Munich – Michael Stadler 34-yard field goal, 7:57. Munich 3, Paris 0.

Paris – Dean Faithfull 52-yard field goal, 0:16. Munich 3, Paris 3.

Second Quarter

Munich – Louis Geyer 43-yard pass from Russell Tabor (Michael Stadler kick), 10:45. Munich 10, Paris 3.

Munich – Louis Geyer 7-yard pass from Russell Tabor (Michael Stadler kick), 2:14. Munich 17, Paris 3.

Paris – Torin Justice 27-yard pass from Zach Edwards (kick blocked), 0:49. Munich 17, Paris 9.

Munich – Malik Stanley 6-yard pass from Russell Tabor (Michael Stadler kick), 0:06. Munich 24, Paris 9.

Third Quarter

Munich – Philip Okonkwo 5-yard pass from Russell Tabor (Michael Stadler kick), 5:39. Munich 31, Paris 9.

Fourth Quarter

Paris – Liam Ward 18-yard pass from Zach Edwards (Dean Faithfull kick), 14:55. Munich 31, Paris 16.

Munich – Ron Tiavaasue 1-yard run (Michael Stadler kick), 13:08. Munich 38, Paris 16.

Paris – Torin Justice 30-yard pass from Zach Edwards (run failed), 9:11. Munich 38, Paris 22.

Munich – Sixten Dragan 2-yard pass from Russell Tabor (Michael Stadler kick), 0:16. Munich 45, Paris 22.