Previewing the National Championship Game

While the Falcons will host the National Championship game this coming Saturday night, it won't be at their home field.

Once again we were dealt a dose of humility as a volleyball tournament has long been scheduled to be played on our game field this coming weekend thus forcing us to find a new site in the greater Lyon megalopolis.

Instead our game will be played in Lyon at the 3,000 seat Stade Georges Vuillermet. It was the home of Lyon's Division I Rugby team, the LOU, until they moved into their new digs at Matmut Stadium in 2011.

Let's take a closer look at the two teams that will butt heads Saturday night for the 2013 French Division III National Championship crown.

Tours Pionniers (9-0)

Nord Conference Champions

Nord Poule D Champions

Oct. 27, (1-0) Troyes Pygargues 24-14*

Nov. 25, (2-0) Noisy-le-Sec Red Star 20-0*

Feb. 24, (3-0) Troyes Pygargues 28-0*

Mar. 10, (4-0) Châtenay Malabry Mousquetaires 34-0*

Mar. 16, (5-0) Noisy-le-Sec Red Star 40-6*

Apr. 14, (6-0) Châtenay Malabry Mousquetaires 44-32*

Apr. 28, (7-0) La Courneuve Flash B 26-8**

May 11, (8-0) Strasbourg Minotaures 56-6**

May 26, (9-0) St-Herblain Dockers 28-6**

June 8, at Bron-Villeurbanne Falcons**

* Nord Poule D Game

** French National Division III Playoff Game

As for your also undefeated Falcons, here is a look at our 2012-13 season.

Bron-Villeurbanne Falcons (11-0)

Sud Conference Champions
Sud Poule C Champions

Nov. 11, (1-0) Lyon Gones 21-7*

Nov. 25, (2-0) Chambéry Aigles 18-0*

Feb. 17, (3-0) St-Cergues Bulldogs 28-7* 

Mar. 3 (4-0) Lyon Gones 35-6*

Mar. 10, (5-0) Clermont-Ferrand Servals 47-0*

Mar. 17, (6-0) Chambéry Aigles 34-14*

Mar. 31, (7-0) St-Cergues Bulldogs 41-6*

Apr. 14, (8-0) Clermont-Ferrand Servals 41-0*

Apr. 28, (9-0) Albi Hurricane 52-6**

May 12, (10-0) St-Cergues Bulldogs 46-14**
June 2, (11-0) Montrabé Comètes 44-12**
June 8, vs. Tours Pionniers**

* Sud Poule C Game

** French National Division III Playoff Game

The Pionniers were the Nord Conference's #2 seed and beat the #1 seeded St-Herblain Dockers in the Conference Championship game 28-6.

The Pionniers have scored 300 points in their nine games for an average of 33.3 points per game.

Defensively, the team from Tours has given up just 72 points, an average of 8.0 points per game.

As for the Falcons, they were the Sud Conference's #2 seed and beat the #1 seeded Montrabé Comètes 44-12 in the Sud Conference title tilt.

The Falcons offense has put 407 points on the board in 11 games, an average of 37.0 points per game.

The Bron-Villeurbanne team has also given up exactly 72 points on the year over its 11 contests, an average of 6.5 points per game.

It should be a great match-up of two very good clubs!


Meanwhile, a few loose ends from yesterday's Sud Conference Championship game . . .

Merci Laurie for taking

all of those pictures

Merci Nath Caldes for taking

all of your pictures as well

Here are some of Nath's shots.

The Defensive Line

With DT Joel Tchibozo

The Rontet Brothers

Besides being goofy, they can both play running back.

Very well.

With Steven Berthomier and

Alex Da Silva

They are two great examples of the role playing, team first mentality that all great teams share.

LBs Matthieu Fayard and

Sam Ajavon

Hammer Time INDEED!

Thanks again Laurie!!!