The Thonon Black Panthers overpowered Spain’s Badalona Dracs 41-17 in their Central European Football League quarterfinal, leveraging a blistering first half to secure victory on the shores of Lake Geneva.
First-quarter onslaught sets tone
The Black Panthers struck immediately, with quarterback José Tabora linking up with tight end Odell Turnbull to cap an opening drive. A long punt return set up Tabora’s second touchdown pass to Benjamin Lolmede, followed by another connection with Turnbull for a 14-0 lead. Defender Timon Debiez then intercepted a deep Dracs pass and returned it for a pick-six, extending the margin to 21-0.
Photo: Guillaume Mouchet
Dracs falter before halftime
Spain’s Badalona Dracs briefly disrupted the onslaught in the second quarter. Tom Gabarro Maristany intercepted Tabora, leading to Jan Ladero Vera’s field goal (21-3). But the Black Panthers responded, with Tabora threading a touchdown pass to Lolmede for a 28-3 halftime lead.
Second-half surges fall short
After halftime, the Dracs showed flashes: running back Keshawn Williams powered through tackles for a third-quarter touchdown (28-9). However, Thonon tailback Lucas Davoine answered with a rushing score (34-9) and added another in the fourth quarter after a pinpoint Tabora pass to Pierre-Yves Dayres positioned the team at the goal line (41-9).
Late consolation for visitors
In the final minutes, the Dracs salvaged pride as quarterback Sergi Gonzalo Arango found Oriol Adria Lombarte for a touchdown and two-point conversion (41-17). The rally, however, underscored the game’s lopsided nature.
Photo: Guillaume Mouchet
Path forward
The Thonon Black Panthers advance to the CEFL semifinals, while the Badalona Dracs exit with lessons from their second-half resilience. For the French side, the emphatic win reinforces their status as contenders, though stiffer challenges await in the next round.
Source: CEFL