FFFA Wild Card Weekend

Damn, it felt amazing to see these teams back on the field after a short break. The energy is high, the stakes are real, and the road to the throne officially begins. It’s ride or die now, and it’s kicking off in full force. All eyes were on these 2 playoff-opening matchups this past weekend.

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Grizzlys - Perpignan @ Flash - La Courneuve 

Running back Jason Bofumba was the first to light things up, striking early with a thunderous 35-yard run that electrified the field. It wasn’t him who started the drive, but #33 wasted no time making his presence felt. With sharp vision and great blocks paving the way, he dashed straight into the end zone. Lightning McQueen should be careful, we may have found someone faster than him !On the very next drive, the Grizzlys took a gamble on fourth down but came up short with a run that failed to gain the necessary yards. The turnover on downs gave the Flash excellent field position, and they made the most of it. A few plays later, Thibaut Devismes calmly slotted a well-executed field goal, extending the lead to 10-0 with just under three minutes remaining in the first quarter.If we told you that Idriss Ramky was the Grizzlys' X-factor in the first half, it still wouldn’t do justice to his impact. He was simply on fire and the spark that kept their semi-final hopes alive. Early in the second quarter, Ramky came up big with a clutch receiving touchdown, injecting new life into the Grizzlys’ offense and reminding everyone that this game was, at the time, far from over. It was now 10-7.

However, the second half marked the beginning of the end for the Grizzlys. Despite a few flashes of brilliance and some well-executed plays, they gradually began to slip, small mistakes started to pile up, and the Flash wasted no time taking advantage. In the end, La Courneuve emerged the victors with a final score of 44-19. Still, out of the two matchups, this one was by far the most entertaining, with intensity and momentum swings that kept fans locked in until the final whistle. The better team came out on top, and now the Flash are moving on to the next stage, where they’ll face the Iron Mask in what promises to be a thrilling showdown.

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Molosses - Asnières-sur-Seine @ Ours- Toulouse

The Ours were chasing a historic playoff run, while the Molosses were aiming to reclaim their place among the league’s elite. On paper, it looked like a lopsided matchup. The Molosses had been gaining momentum and were widely seen as one of the league’s most dangerous teams, while the Ours had wrapped up their last regular season games on a more inconsistent note.

Guess what? The Ours struck twice before the Molosses even had a chance to respond. A touchdown and big defensive play gave them a surprising 14-0 lead heading into the second quarter. The message was clear: either the Molosses weren’t prepared, or they had underestimated their opponent. Either way, the Ours were making a serious statement.

The second quarter saw a shift in momentum. The Molosses responded with back-to-back touchdowns, quickly tying the game. Just as the pressure started to build, Braden Howell answered with a perfectly placed pass to Killian Heraud, who took it all the way for another score, and the Ours were back in front. 21-14 now.

What do you do when the defense is blitzing relentlessly? You adapt, and that’s exactly what quarterback Hahn did. With support from an offensive line that stepped up when it mattered most, he led another scoring drive to level the game once again. 21-21, before the end of the first half.

The second half, however, told a different story. The Molosses took control, extending their lead drive after drive and eventually sealing the game with a commanding 56-30 win.

Still, credit must be given where it’s due. The Ours delivered a remarkable season under first-year head coach Brayden McCombs. They played with heart, embraced the underdog role, and proved a lot of people wrong. We loved watching them fight every step of the way.

The Molosses move on to the semifinals, one step away from the grand final. To get there, though, they’ll need to rise to the occasion once again –this time against the formidable Black Panthers.