Thonon Black Panthers claim first ever CEFL title in defensive thriller

| American Football | 06/24/2025

The Thonon Black Panthers from France edged Switzerland’s Calanda Broncos 28-21 in CEFL Bowl XIX at Broncos Stadium, overcoming a gritty second-half rally and a late defensive stand to secure their maiden Central European Football League championship in front of a stunned Swiss crowd.

Early fireworks set tone for back-and-forth battle
Thonon struck first after recovering a fumbled punt return, with quarterback José Tabora lateraling to Benjamin Lolmede for a 7-0 opening score. Calanda responded immediately, as quarterback Robin Sennrich connected with Max Gray on a deep touchdown pass to tie the game. The Panthers reclaimed momentum late in the first quarter when Lucas Davoine broke free on a 4th-and-1 gamble, sprinting 46 yards for a 14-7 lead.

Gray shines in Broncos’ valiant counterpunch
Calanda’s dual-threat star Gray dominated the second quarter, capping a methodical drive with a tackle-breaking rushing touchdown to level the score at 14-14. Thonon answered with Tabora’s 21-yard strike to Adel Bafdile, but both teams traded interceptions—Jumilson Moreira and Bafdile for Thonon, Matthias Tanno for Calanda—to keep the halftime margin at 21-14.

Defensive chess match defines second half
After a scoreless third quarter dominated by Noah Bachofen’s hard-nosed rushing (4th-down conversions in tight traffic), Thonon extended their lead early in the fourth. Tabora orchestrated a 12-yard scoring scramble, weaving through defenders for a 28-14 advantage. Gray struck again for Calanda with a clutch touchdown reception, cutting the deficit to 28-21 with 6:33 remaining, but Thonon’s defense stiffened when it mattered most.

Goal-line stand seals historic victory
Trailing 28-21 with 1:57 left, Calanda drove to Thonon’s 44-yard line behind Sennrich’s precision throws. On 4th-and-1, Bachofen was stuffed inches short of the marker after a measurement review, handing possession back to Thonon. The Panthers’ defense celebrated as Tabora took a final knee in victory formation, extending Calanda’s  CEFL Bowl losing streak on home soil.

Key metrics and legacy moments

  • Total yards: Thonon 347 (estimated from scoring drives), Calanda 385
  • Turnovers: Thonon 2 (interceptions), Calanda 3 (2 interceptions, 1 fumble)
  • MVP: Adel Bafdile (Thonon) – 1 TD reception, 2 interceptions

Thonon’s triumph marked their first title in three CEFL Bowl appearances since 2022, while Calanda fell to 0-3 in championship games since 2019. The Panthers’ balanced attack (168 rushing yards, 179 passing) and redzone efficiency (4/5 scoring drives inside the 20) proved decisive.

Scoring summary

  • Thonon: Lolmede rushing TD (7-0), Davoine 46-yard TD (14-7), Bafdile 21-yard TD (21-14), Tabora 12-yard scramble (28-14)
  • Calanda: Gray receiving TD (7-7), Gray rushing TD (14-14), Gray receiving TD (28-21)

Path ahead
Thonon returns to France as the CEFL’s newest powerhouse, while Calanda must regroup after another heartbreaking home finale. The Panthers’ resilience in tight games—sealing their last two wins by a combined 10 points—cements their status as a rising European force.

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