After a narrow loss in the season opener against Rhein Fire, the Paris Musketeers came into Duisburg with a clear goal — and executed it with confidence. Paris put together a strong all-around performance on Sunday afternoon, earning a convincing 31–7 victory on the road.
From the very first drive, the Musketeers’ offense looked composed. Quarterback Zachary Henderson led a clean and efficient opening series, mixing short passes and inside runs. Wide receiver Hugo Tekedam finished the drive with a short touchdown catch, giving Paris an early 7–0 lead.
The defense followed suit, shutting down Rhein Fire's first possession and getting the ball right back. Running back Nicolas Khandar then broke through the middle for a25-yard gain, setting up a successful field goal and extending the lead to 10–0.
A miscue onthe following Rhein Fire drive gave Paris another golden opportunity. A high snap led to a fumble near the end zone, which the Musketeers recovered at the2-yard line. Henderson capitalized immediately, finding Tekedam again for his second touchdown. Just ten minutes in, Paris had jumped ahead 17–0.
Rain and slippery field conditions made things difficult for both sides as the game went on. A fumble gave Rhein Fire a short field in the second quarter, and aided by a few penalties, they punched in their only touchdown of the day via a quarterback sneak. Still, Paris held a comfortable 17–7 lead at halftime.
The second half saw Paris control the clock and the tempo. A long drive in the third quarter, powered by steady runs and smart decisions, ended with Henderson’s third touchdown pass — this time to Florian Larose — putting the Musketeers up 24–7.
Rhein Fire’s attempts to mount a comeback were met by a disciplined Paris defense. Safety Amir Kilani came up with a key interception to halt one promising drive. Late in the fourth quarter, Henderson connected with Cheikhou Sow for one final touchdown, closing out the scoring at 31–7.
