Paris Lights shake off sloppy start to claim historic first win over Firenze Red Lions

By John Mahnen

An early 10 a.m. kickoff, a sloppy opening quarter, a long injury delay, and an early deficit did not dim the lights for a franchise first win in Paris. Once they settled down, however, the Lights looked every bit like a team built to win immediately. Canadian quarterback Evan Hillock threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns, Tristen Wallace caught two scoring passes, Armand Soulerot added two touchdowns of his own, and Paris scored 30 unanswered points to beat the Firenze Red Lions 30–8 Saturday at the Complexe Sportif de l’Île-des-Vannes in L’Île-Saint-Denis.

Early struggles

It was the first game in franchise history for both teams, and the early start — moved to the morning because of the heat in the Paris region — may have had something to do with the opening act. Either that, or everyone was still half asleep. Both teams badly botched their first punts. Firenze survived a high snap on its opening series, while Paris’ first special teams mistake was more costly, giving the Red Lions the ball deep in Lights territory. Firenze capitalized when quarterback Matthew McKay finished a short drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, then found Devin Carter for the two-point conversion and an 8–0 lead.

Defensive standouts

At that stage, the Red Lions looked more composed. Their defense, led by Jakeen Harris, was fast to the ball, and Paris’ offensive line struggled to give Hillock rhythm. The Lights also had issues with snaps, timing, and protection, making a rough debut feel even rougher. But the Paris defense kept the game within reach. Wilfried Pene, Valentin Gnahoua, and the Lights front began taking over the line of scrimmage, repeatedly forcing McKay off schedule and removing Firenze’s early confidence. Pene was the standout, finishing with 10 total tackles and 1.5 sacks in a dominant performance that gave Paris the edge it needed while the offense found itself.

Turning point

The turning point came in the second quarter. After the Lights defense held firm, Hillock finally found the matchup Paris had been waiting for. He hit Wallace for a 59-yard touchdown, and Boris Bede’s extra point cut the deficit to 8–7. Moments later, Paris struck again. Soulerot, who had been fighting through traffic early, powered in from two yards out to put the Lights ahead 14–8 before halftime. From that point forward, Firenze never recovered.

Second half surge

Hillock opened the second half with more confidence, and Paris offensive coordinator Timur Beckmann began leaning into the team’s athletic balance. Wallace stretched the field, J.J. Hope worked underneath, and the running backs became more involved as receivers and ball carriers. Hillock’s second touchdown pass to Wallace, this one from 13 yards, extended the lead to 21–8. Soulerot then caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Hillock to make it 27–8, capping a stretch in which the Lights looked increasingly comfortable and the Red Lions looked increasingly worn down by the heat and the Paris defensive front.

Firenze’s offensive struggles

Firenze, meanwhile, could not find any sustained offense. McKay finished 5 of 11 for 82 yards and was under constant pressure. Aaron David led the Red Lions with three catches for 70 yards, but most of that damage came early. Firenze totaled only 126 yards and went 0-for-10 on third down, a number that tells the story of how thoroughly Paris controlled the game after the first quarter.

Closing the game

Paris closed the scoring in the fourth quarter on a 29-yard field goal from Bede. The veteran kicker had an uneven day, but his leg still gave the Lights a stabilizing presence in a game where special teams were anything but clean early. There were question marks for Paris. The snaps and operation must be cleaned up quickly. The offense had too many delays and early communication issues. The first quarter showed that a more polished opponent could punish those mistakes more severely.

Looking ahead

But for a first game, head coach David Shelton will take the result. His quarterback settled in, his playmakers made plays, and his defense looked like a genuine strength. Pene in particular gave Paris a tone-setting performance, while Wallace’s explosiveness and Soulerot’s versatility gave the Lights a clear offensive identity by the end of the afternoon. For Firenze and head coach Bill Shuey, the debut began with promise but ended with a long list of corrections. The Red Lions showed defensive toughness early and enough athleticism to make Paris uncomfortable, but the offense stalled badly and the lack of finishing power became impossible to hide.

Paris did not merely win its first game. It survived the awkwardness of a brand-new operation, overcame an ugly start, and then took command. For a franchise called the Lights, the switch finally flipped.

Scoring summary

First quarter
FIR — Matthew McKay 1 run (Devin Carter pass from McKay), Firenze 8, Paris 0

Second quarter
PAR — Tristen Wallace 59 pass from Evan Hillock (Boris Bede kick), Firenze 8, Paris 7

PAR — Armand Soulerot 2 run (Bede kick), Paris 14, Firenze 8

Third quarter
PAR — Wallace 13 pass from Hillock (Bede kick), Paris 21, Firenze 8

PAR — Soulerot 7 pass from Hillock (kick failed), Paris 27, Firenze 8

Fourth quarter
PAR — Bede 29 field goal, Paris 30, Firenze 8

Final: Paris Lights 30, Firenze Red Lions 8