FFFA D1 - Power Ranking Week 5

1st Flash - La Courneuve

Yes, they went up against the weakest team in the championship this weekend, but they dominated in every aspect of the game. Not much else to say, it was a one-sided affair.

Léo Cremades was benched to keep him fresh for next week’s crucial matchup against the Black Panthers, but that didn’t slow them down. Paul Durand stepped in seamlessly, leading a well-drilled offense to an effortless victory.

Paul Durand showcased his poise and playmaking ability by converting a critical 4th-and-5 situation into a touchdown with a well-executed play-action pass. This impressive play extended their lead to 21-0, following two early rushing touchdowns. Durand's performance underscores the team's offensive depth and strategic versatility.

By the time the game was clearly out of reach, they even gave their third-string quarterback, Louis Gosse, some playing time. Meanwhile, the defense was relentless, completely overwhelming the Cougars’ offense. To put the final nail in the coffin, they capped off their dominant performance with a late pick-six, sealing a crushing 51-0 victory.

2nd Black Panthers - Thonon-les-Bains

What a game, this was the one you absolutely HAD to watch. Things got off to a rough start when José Tabora Jr. threw an interception at the one-yard line, a mistake that could have been costly. But in a dramatic twist, luck was on their side. While the opposing team was too busy celebrating, Benjamin Lolmede sprinted back down the field, managing to prevent what seemed like an inevitable touchdown. A game-changing moment that kept them in the fight. After a shaky start, the defense stepped up by forcing a crucial fumble and recovering it on their own 30-yard line. That turnover gave them the spark they needed, and they capitalized on the opportunity by scoring on the ensuing drive. However, the excitement was short-lived as they immediately allowed the Molosses to respond with a touchdown of their own. The momentum was shifting back and forth constantly. It was impossible to tell which team truly had control of the game.

With just 46 seconds left on the clock and down by one possession, The Black Panthers found themselves in a high-stakes 2nd & goal situation. As soon as the ball was snapped, José Tabora Jr. was immediately under heavy pressure. But despite the chaos, he stayed composed and delivered an absolute laser to Liam Ward—formerly of the Helvetic Mercenaries in the ELF, firing a clutch touchdown pass in a defining moment of the game.

They successfully converted the two-point attempt, but their celebration was short-lived. Due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Odell Turnbull—the very player who made the catch. They were forced to kick off from their own 5-yard line. Yes, you read that right. A costly mistake that put them in a dangerously vulnerable position, leaving the door wide open for a potential last-minute comeback.

3rd Ours - Toulouse

Even though Toulouse faced a weaker opponent than the Iron Mask, we found their performance much more balanced and convincing this time around. This is why we’ve ranked them higher. Of course, this is a subjective take, we simply wanted to highlight their progress since last season and the fact that they’re still undefeated..

Did we mention how much we appreciate Braden Howell? He’s a player we absolutely love watching. His first throwing touchdown this week reminded us of a classic Russell Wilson throw against the Colts in Week 1 of the 2022 season. The way Howell delivered that ball with such precision and timing was nothing short of impressive—he’s definitely one to keep an eye on. This guy is such a calm guy on the field like, he seems to never be stressed.

The defense had a solid performance in deep coverage, but they did struggle at times with defending the middle of the field, flat and on screen passes. These areas seemed to create some vulnerability, and the opposing offense was able to exploit them on a few occasions. It’s something they’ll likely need to address moving forward if they want to tighten up their overall game.

4th Molosses - Asnières-sur-Seine

As we mentioned earlier, this was undoubtedly the game of the week, packed with high-intensity plays on both sides of the ball. One of the standout moments came from Kevin Fortes, who came agonizingly close to a pick-six, only to be taken down by a Black Panthers defender just short of the end zone. But it didn’t matter “that much” in the end, as the offense capitalized on the opportunity and punched it in for a touchdown shortly after.

Had the momentum swung in their favor with an early pick-six, especially at the 1-yard line, the entire game could have played out differently. A game-changing moment like that could have been the spark the team needed, igniting their confidence and inspiring fear in their opponents. Momentum is everything, and sometimes a single play can completely shift the course of the game.

We’re not entirely sure that an early pick-six would have been the proverbial sword of Damocles hanging over the Black Panthers' heads, as they’re a strong team capable of handling adversity. However, it certainly could have made their comeback effort much more difficult as the game went on. The Black Panthers are resilient, but even the best teams struggle to overcome momentum shifts when the pressure mounts late in the game.Another great all-around performance by Brody Hahn, who played a key role throughout the game. Unfortunately, in the final 30 seconds, he was placed under the concussion protocol after taking a hard hit. With Hahn out, backup quarterback Nicolas Wachthausen was thrust into action and gave it his all, trying to do the impossible in those final moments. While the odds were stacked against him, he showed great determination in stepping up when his team needed him most.

5th Iron Mask - Cannes

It wasn’t the most thrilling game (vs Blue Stars), but the Iron Mask started strong, putting up all their points in the first quarter. The connection between Olivier Roy and Timothé Labarrière continues to grow week by week, and it was evident throughout this game. Their timing was spot-on, especially on a number of plays, and it’s clear that this duo is developing into a real force on the field.

The defense did its job, holding things down while the offense struggled to find its rhythm and reach the end zone. Despite the offensive difficulties, the defense kept them in the game, ensuring they maintained control for the most part. It’s clear the team will need to find a way to click offensively if they want to become more consistent moving forward.

6th Diables Rouges - Villepinte

An honest one-sided game against the Léopards, where the Diables Rouges set the tone right from the start. On their opening drive, WR Hugo Schwartz delivered a stunning, shifty play on a motion-running scheme to put the first points on the board. Just a few plays later, the defense capitalized on Rouen’s mistakes, picking off their offense and quickly extending the lead to 13-0.

Midway through the first quarter, Badis Grami showcased his precision, launching a perfect pass to Schwartz, who easily found the end zone. From that moment on, the defense took full control, dictating the pace and securing two more interceptions before halftime, where they held a commanding 26-point lead.

The second half, in contrast, was much quieter. Both teams struggled to sustain drives, leading to a series of three-and-outs and punts. While the game lost its early intensity, the outcome was never in doubt. An utterly dominant performance from start to finish.

7th Blue Stars - Marseille

Nothing seems to be clicking for the Blue Stars right now, and as we mentioned before, this was far from an entertaining game. Both sides of the ball struggled to make an impact, and their lack of execution cost them. They dropped a spot in the power rankings, not just because of the loss, but because they fell short in key moments and failed to find a real solution; even against an Iron Mask team that wasn’t at its best.

There are growing concerns about Gwinner Brandon and the offense, which appears to be struggling when it comes to putting points on the board. However, one thing is certain, the defense is holding its ground. Despite their overall difficulties, Marseille is currently ranked as the third-best team in the league in terms of points allowed. If they can figure out their offensive issues, they might still have a shot at turning things around.

8th Grizzlys - Perpignan

The Grizzlys needed to regain momentum and secure a win against the Argonautes, as another loss would have seriously jeopardized their playoff hopes. The game didn’t start smoothly, as they initially gave up what would have been a spectacular touchdown reception. However, they caught a break with an offensive penalty, (O-lineman downfield), nullifying the play. That said, the Grizzlys still ended up conceding a touchdown before the end of the first quarter, with the clock winding down to the final three minutes. Determined to respond, they wasted no time. On the very next drive, they delivered an electrifying rushing touchdown. By the middle of the second quarter, they found the end zone once again, this time through the air, executing a sharp red-zone passing play to take control of the game.

On certain plays, their defense looked completely lost, especially when defending against the run. They struggled to contain the opposition, leaving gaps that were easily exploited. With just a minute left before halftime, they conceded another well-executed passing touchdown. Alexander Fromberg capitalized on the opportunity, delivering a beautifully timed post route that was perfectly executed and nearly impossible to defend. However, They left too much time on the clock, allowing the Argonautes to capitalize and respond with a touchdown just before the end of the half. A costly mistake that kept the game closer than it should have been. 21-20 for Aix-en-Provence.The second half was far more one-sided than the first, as Perpignan took control and never looked back. They managed the game efficiently, tightening up on defense and maintaining their offensive rhythm. In the end, they sealed the victory with a solid 38-28 win

9th Argonautes - Aix-en-Provence

This game remained tightly contested through the first three quarters before the pace became too much to handle, and theArgonautes fell short of expectations. Jason Gaines commanded the offense with confidence, distributing the ball like a true field general. Both the receiving corps and the running backs played an active role, keeping the offense dynamic. However, a crucial mistake on an option play led to a costly turnover, which the opposition quickly converted into a touchdown. Defensively, they applied strong pressure on the opposing quarterback but struggled to contain the run game and occasionally faltered in pass coverage, whether in man-to-man or zone schemes. A solid effort, but adjustments are clearly needed moving forward.

10th Dauphins - Nice

It’s great to see Sullivan Silverio stepping up at quarterback while Kiani Freeman is out. He’s handling the role well, keeping the offense on track and making smart plays. Even if he’s not the long-term solution, he’s proving to be a solid leader in the meantime. Even though they were up against an undefeated team, Dauphins certainly didn’t make it easy for them. The game started with a lot of promise, as they found ways to exploit gaps in the middle of the field and create opportunities on screen plays. The offensive game plan was well-structured, allowing them to move the ball effectively at times, but inconsistency in execution prevented them from fully capitalizing.

Defensively, they had their hands full containing Braden Howell, who delivered another standout performance. His composure in the pocket made it difficult to apply effective pressure, and his precision passing, especially on that first touchdown, was a reminder of why he’s one of the best in the league right now. While they managed to disrupt some plays and force a few difficult third downs, their deep coverage was tested repeatedly, and they struggled to contain Howell’s rhythm.

The biggest challenge came from their inability to fully shut down the opponent’s offense when it mattered most. Despite showing flashes of resilience, particularly in defending against the run, they allowed too many big plays, which ultimately tilted the game in favor of their opponent.

11th Léopards - Rouen

The Léopards scored just 39 points while conceding 159, making it hard to find much hope for the second half of the season. There are glimpses of potential, but it's not enough to turn things around yet. Building a strong team is always challenging, especially in areas where it's tough to attract top-tier players. Even in a league that isn’t fully professional, teams need strong arguments to attract import players, or even talented domestic players. The challenge goes beyond just recruiting; developing young talent is also a struggle. It’s already difficult to build competitive junior teams and give them regular game time, especially when nearby teams face the same issues. Of course, this isn’t the sole reason for Rouen's recent struggles, but it’s definitely a key factor in understanding their situation. Without a solid foundation and a steady pipeline of talent, it’s hard to compete at a high level consistently.

12th Cougars - Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône

We can’t help but feel for the Cougars and hope this isn’t a sign of deeper issues. When you’re taking heavy losses week after week, it’s tough to keep the passion alive, not just for the players, but for everyone involved. It wouldn’t be surprising if some players decided not to return next season, and that’s how the vicious cycle continues. It’s a tough spot to be in, and honestly, it’s pretty sad to see. That being said, it’s not all doom and gloom, but with today’s announcement of the forfeit for both the Division 3 and U20 teams, it’s hard to stay optimistic.

Northern Division: