Paris Musketeers edge Raiders Tirol with late Hugo Tekedam touchdown

The Paris Musketeers were under pressure to prove that last week’s humbling loss to the Munich Ravens was only a stumble. Raiders Tirol were under even more pressure to prove that their winless start was more a product of a brutal schedule than a lack of quality.

For most of Saturday evening at Stade Bauer in Paris, the Raiders looked ready to make that argument stick.

Instead, Zach Edwards and Hugo Tekedam had the final word.

Tekedam caught his second touchdown pass of the game with only 16 seconds remaining, lifting the Musketeers to a dramatic 24–17 win over Raiders Tirol in the first-ever European Football Alliance meeting between the two clubs.

The result moves Paris back onto a winning track after its 41–7 loss to the Munich Ravens, while Tirol remains winless despite producing arguably its most complete performance of the season.

Paris strikes first

Paris struck immediately. After the Raiders went three-and-out on the opening possession, Austin Mitchell gave the Musketeers a jolt with a strong punt return and then did even more damage on offense. On Paris’ first play from scrimmage, Edwards found Mitchell deep for a 51-yard gain, moving the ball into the red zone. Three plays later, Edwards hit Tekedam for a 19-yard touchdown and a 7–0 lead.

The Raiders, who entered the game still looking for their first win under head coach Shuan Fatah, did not fold. After two empty possessions, Tirol settled into the kind of game it needed: physical, patient and run-heavy. Lukas Haslwanter and Tobias Bonatti helped the Raiders control the line of scrimmage, and Jonata Loria finished the first long Tirol drive with a 34-yard field goal to make it 7–3 late in the first quarter.

The game turned early in the second quarter when the Tirol defense made the first major play. Tim Unger knocked the ball loose from Edwards after a 25-yard scramble, and Jan Mayerhofer recovered. The Raiders turned that takeaway into points when Steven Krajewski found Marco Schneider for a 35-yard touchdown. Loria’s extra point gave Tirol a 10–7 lead.

Paris answered with a methodical drive, but penalties and the Tirol defense forced the Musketeers to settle for a 30-yard Dean Faithfull field goal. That tied the game at 10–10, but the Raiders had found their rhythm.

Starting from their own 40 after a kickoff out of bounds, Tirol marched downfield behind Haslwanter, Bonatti, Krajewski and a key reception by new import J’Kalon Carter. A Paris unnecessary roughness penalty moved the Raiders inside the 10, and after the two-minute warning Krajewski kept the ball himself, diving in from eight yards out. Loria added the PAT, and Tirol went into halftime with a 17–10 lead.

For a team that had opened the season against the Munich Ravens, Nordic Storm and Frankfurt Galaxy, it was exactly the type of response Fatah needed from his group.

Defenses take over

The second half became a defensive fight and a test of nerves.

Paris suffered a scare when Mitchell had to be taken from the field on a stretcher after a play early in the third quarter. The Musketeers later put together a long drive, converting a fourth down along the way, but Stanley Aronokhale blocked Faithfull’s 47-yard field goal attempt to preserve Tirol’s seven-point lead.

The Raiders then had a chance to stretch the margin. A running-into-the-kicker penalty against Paris extended a Tirol drive, and Carter’s 12-yard catch helped move the ball into scoring range. But Loria missed from 37 yards early in the fourth quarter, leaving the score at 17–10 and giving Edwards one more opening.

He took it.

Edwards mixed quarterback runs with tough inside carries from Jason Bofunda and a 24-yard completion to Tekedam. On fourth-and-goal from the two, Bofunda powered into the end zone. Faithfull’s extra point tied the game at 17–17 with 4:28 remaining.

Tekedam delivers the winner

Tirol’s next possession stalled. Bonatti and Krajewski moved the chains once, but Jamalcolm Liggins broke up a third-down pass intended for Carter, forcing a punt with under two minutes left.

That set up the decisive drive.

Edwards was sharp when Paris needed him most. He found Bofunda out of the backfield, hit Hassane Dosso twice to reach midfield, then connected with Rémi Bertellin and Lokmen Nadjem to move into scoring range. A false start briefly slowed the drive, but Edwards converted under pressure, and Tekedam made a leaping 11-yard catch to set up first-and-goal.

With the clock nearly gone, Paris did not settle for a field goal. Edwards went back to Tekedam, threading a risky throw near Precious Ogbevoen. Tekedam secured it for the touchdown with 16 seconds left.

Krajewski had one final chance, but his desperation throw was intercepted by Liggins, sealing a 24–17 Paris victory.

For Jack Del Rio’s Musketeers, it was not a clean performance, but it was a needed one. Paris showed resilience after falling behind and found a late-game answer from its quarterback and top playmaker.

For Fatah and the Raiders, it was another bitter result. Tirol finally played the balanced, physical game it had been chasing, but missed chances in the red zone, a missed fourth-quarter field goal and the inability to close out the final two minutes left the Raiders still searching for their first European Football Alliance win.

Scoring Summary 

First Quarter 

Paris – Hugo Tekedam 19-yard pass from Zach Edwards; Dean Faithfull kick good. Paris 7, Tirol 0. 

Tirol – Jonata Loria 34-yard field goal. Paris 7, Tirol 3. 

Second Quarter 

Tirol – Marco Schneider 35-yard pass from Steven Krajewski; Loria kick good. Tirol 10, Paris 7. 

Paris – Faithfull 30-yard field goal. Paris 10, Tirol 10. 

Tirol – Krajewski 8-yard run; Loria kick good. Tirol 17, Paris 10. 

Third Quarter 

No scoring. 

Fourth Quarter 

Paris – Jason Bofunda 2-yard run; Faithfull kick good. Paris 17, Tirol 17. 

Paris – Tekedam 8-yard pass from Edwards; Faithfull kick good. Paris 24, Tirol 17.