„We executed everything we wanted to do“ as Fire run out dominant winners over Paris Lights
Rhein Fire ran out comfortable 35-0 winners over the Paris Lights on Saturday. A first quarter defensive battle gave way to a one-sided second half after Lights quarterback Evan Hillock was forced off with a throwing hand injury, changing the entire shape of the game. Both sides had plenty to say afterwards.
A clean performance from start to finish
For Rhein Fire wide receiver Kaylon Geiger Sr., the message after the game was simple. „It was just a good team win, we enjoyed playing Paris.“ On the field that showed. The Fire executed their game plan without hesitation and Geiger himself was at the centre of it, hauling in a touchdown from Kenji Bahar as part of a five-score performance that included rushing touchdowns from Bahar, Jonathan Scott and Giacomo de Pauli. „We executed everything we wanted to do,“ Geiger said.
A big part of what made the offense click was the connection between Geiger and Bahar, a combination that is clearly growing with every week. „The connection between me and Kenji, we are building it since we got here,“ Geiger explained. „It is just about a natural human relationship, it starts there and then it leads to the football field.“
Hillock goes down, Fire take over
The game could have looked very different. The opening quarter was a defensive battle with just 23 combined total yards across the entire period, and Paris looked capable of keeping things tight. The turning point came when Hillock suffered an injury to his throwing hand and was forced off the field early in the second quarter, replaced by backup Marouane Dardour. Hillock attempted to return but the pain was too much to continue. Without their starting quarterback, the Lights could no longer sustain drives and Rhein Fire took full advantage, pulling away to a final score of 35-0.
Shelton proud of his defense, demands more from offense
Paris head coach David Shelton did not hide his feelings after the game. His defense had given everything, and he made sure to acknowledge that first. „Our defense was incredible, they balled out,“ he said. But the bigger picture was clear to him. „It is longevity. Those guys cannot be on the field for 75, 80 plays. The offense needs to sustain more drives, run the football with a purpose and we will be just fine. We just need to compete more.“
The emotion in the Lights huddle after the final whistle also left a mark on Shelton. He pointed to the players who set the tone for what Paris want to be. „I looked at Wilfried Pene, a guy who plays with 1000 miles an hour at every snap. Valentin, Zaire and Exavier do that too. We just need more guys to get on board and play at that tempo.“
The result moves Rhein Fire to 2-1 and builds real momentum heading into the second part of the season. For Paris, the priority now is getting Hillock healthy and turning a defensive effort that already impresses their own head coach into a complete team performance.
