A long anticipated CEFL Bowl XIX was on schedule for the first day of the summer. Calanda Broncos’ fans packed the stadium welcoming Thonon Black Panthers. They expected a great show and the rivals obliged, keeping them on the edges of their seats. It was a tight race and the game remained open to either opponent until the very last minute.

Both teams’ offenses came out strong, scoring on almost every drive in the first half. The defenses took over in the second, and the attack units only found their footings in the last period. It came down to the wire during the ultimate offensive series of the home team. On a do or die 4th down a minute before the final whistle it was either them or the visitors’ defense.

The Black Panthers had the ball first but they punted after an early 3 and out. A forced fumble on a punt returner and a nimble recovery by Valentin Audrain gave them another go. Quarterback José Tabora lateralled left to Benjamin Lolmede who lit up the scoreboard, 0–7.

Home team reacted swiftly over their workhorse running back, Noah Bachofen who broke tackles reaching midfield. Signal caller Robin Sennrich lobbed the ball deep into the end zone to Maxwell Gray for an equalizer, 7–7.

The following French drive stalled and they planned to extend it on a 4th and 1 running play on the Swiss’ 46 yard line. It went better than expected when Lucas Davoine found a hole and sprinted all the way to the house as the opening quarter ended with 7–14.

Again the Broncos didn’t miss a beat responding. Gray rushed for multiple 1st downs, joined by Sennrich. The leveler came over Gray rushing through the middle, jumping over a defender and into the scoring area, 14–14.

Tabora then connected with Davoin to move the chains and Lolmede scampered for another first down. The series ended with Tabora passing deep in the touchdown zone to a lonesome Adel Bafdile for another lead, 14–21.

When the home team tried to counter, Sennrich went long into triple coverage only to be intercepted by Jumilson Moreira. As if to return the favor, Tabora next hurled the rock into triple coverage himself and Matthias Tanno picked him off.

The Broncos had another go before half time. Bachofen’s tenacious rushes finished ahead of the chains several times in congested traffic. Sennrich then went for the end zone but the ball found its way into Bafdile’s arms for another interception at the intermission.

In the third period the home team turned to Bachofen. His forceful rushes kept extending the field, including on a 4th down in their own territory. Still they had to punt.

Then, in the last quarter, Black Panthers’ WR Liam Ward made the reception for a big gain that ended in the opposing red zone. Tabora weaved through the defense and across the goal line for a 12 yard score, 14–28.

Next Broncos’ drive looked promising but the visitors stripped the ball from Bachofen’s hands and recovered it on the opposing 47 yard line. The locals did better on defense and the French team had to punt.

Time was dwindling for the Broncos with less than half a quarter to play. Sennrich answered the call by flinging a rainbow to the jack-of-all-trades Gray who darted into the end zone untouched to lower the score to 21 – 28.

Understandably, the visitors’ ground game milked the clock, but they eventually punted and committed a holding penalty.

The ball was on the Broncos’ 35 yard line with 1:57 on the clock. Sennrich completed a pass to Adrian Sünderhauf who got horse-collar tackled. That put their unit on the Black Panthers’ 44 yard line with 1:24 to go. Soon after, it was 4th and 1 and the time was 1:03. On the pivotal play Bachofen ran into the pile and the chain crew was called onto the field. After measurement, the first down was short by the length of the football.

The Black Panthers were elated after their defense made crucial stops in the Swiss’ final drive. They spent the last 58 seconds in victory formation and raised their arms in celebration as the clock ticked down to zero. The CEFL Bowl XIX trophy is their first in this competition and it will always remind them of this victory.

Doleful Broncos were still cheered by their fateful fans. It was the third time since 2019 that they had lost the big game on their own home field. Three silver medals from as many CEFL Bowls are nothing to scoff at. Still, one has to feel for them, being one of the pillars of the CEFL Championship and never winning it.

The MVP of the game was Adel Bafdile from the Black Panthers.