Mexico downs Team Outback from Australia for 1st win of Women’s World Championship

Team Mexico found the win column on Day 2 of the 2017 IFAF New York Women’s World Championship at McLeod Stadium in Langley, B.C., Canada Tuesday, as they defeated Australia’s Team Outback 31-10.

In the contest between two teams that had not won yet, both teams came out showing some nervousness. The first half lasted one hour and forty five minutes, largely due to the numerous penalties. Joe Carter, the PA announcer made light of all the yellow flags by saying that “Funny how everyone sounds the same when they’re yelling at the refs – no accent whatsoever.”

Australia came out in a surprise formation that looked like a cross between the flying wedge and the single wing. They made one first down using the “Michigan” formation before Mexico adjusted, then returned to the jet sweep counter that had worked well against Canada. But the Mexican defense held.

The Mexicans scored first. QB Angeles Cruz Colon hit Ana Maria Barbosa Venegas for 43 yards to the 11 yard line. Cruz Colon then found Barbosa Vargas for the score from there, and after Maria Fernanda Mandujano Abrejo added the PAT, it was Mexico 7-0 over Australia with 1:20 left in the first quarter.

The football gods seemed to be with Mexico – 2 fumbles bounced right back to them. But when Cruz Colon dropped back into her own endzone, the gods changed sides. DL Jasmin Collins tackled her for a safety to make the score 7-2 Mexico with 3:08 left in the second quarter. Australia couldn’t do anything with the short field though, and the half ended with Mexico still in the lead.

Consuelo Alejandra Hernandez Macias picked off QB Christy Moran on the Mexican 41 and returned it to the Australian 37 to set up their next score. After a speed option pitch to Paola Reyna Lopez gained a first down, Maria Romero Vazquez scored from the 13. The PAT failed, so Mexico was up 13-2.

The Australian offense finally scored when Moran cut outside off of the Michigan formation and ran 43 yards for the touchdown. Moran threw to Melissa Kelly for the 2 point conversion, and Australia drew within 3 points, 13-10. The Australians had a hope when Megan Wills stripped the ball and ran it into the endzone, but the officials had called the play dead.

Mexico called upon RB Maria Fernanda Pacheco Garcia to try the halfback pass that had worked in their first game, and it had the same result to WR Marlen Gutierrez Padilla for the score. Mexico went for 2, but were stuffed. Later, with Mexico driving again, on 4th and 2 from the 16 yard line, Pacheco Garcia made the first down, and a facemask penalty put the ball at the 2 yard line. From there, Pacheco Garcia took it in, but the extra point failed, so Mexico increased it lead to 25-10.

After Melissa Montano intercepted Moran, Andrea Romero Vazquez scored on a 33 yard run around the left side, but again, the PAT failed. Mexico went up 31-10, which would be the final score. Australia had the chance for a late TD, when Mexico was called for pass interference, but with 0:00 on the clock, Moran’s pass dropped incomplete.

The players of the game were DB Consuelo Alejandra Hernandez Macias for Mexico and DL Jasmin Collins for Australia.