LIVESTREAM Spain Semifinal: Las Rozas Black Demons @ Barbera Rookies, May 7, 16:30 CET (4:30 pm, 10:30 am ET)
The LNFA, Spain’s National League of American Football, has reached the semifinal round as the Las Rozas Black Demons (5-3) travel to face the Barbera Rookies (7-1).
The Rookies won the East Conference while Las Rozas finished second in the West.
This is the second year in a row that the Black Demons have reached the semifinals while Barbera is appearing in the final in their first year in Spain’s top league.
The Rookies waltzed through most of the Conference East regular season with relative ease apart from a hiccup when they dropped a game to the Mallorca Voltors 26-19. The offense led the league averaging 37 points a game. Despite being newcomers to the top division in Spain, Barbera knocked off the reigning champions, the Dracs, twice during the season. Thus, they enter this game against the Conference West #2 team as favorites.
Las Rozas, 2021 finalists, lost three games, two to Osos Rivas, and one inexplicably to the Murcia Cobras to open the season. Although they won their last two games easily, they will be in tough against a Rookies team that could very well win the whole thing this year.
The Rookies young quarterback Alex Pacheco only took over the team late in the season following the departure of Mexican quarterback Luis Enrique García. Pacheco threw for 523 yards and four touchdowns in the final three games of the year. Receivers Brayan Larese, Víctor Llargués and Victor Vega are his main targets. Spanish running backs Hasday Arias (296 yds/3 tds) and Luis Enrique García (177 yds/2 tds) lead the ground attack.
Las Rozas quarterback David De Diego was the second leading passer in Spain during the regular season throwing for 1,351 yards and 25 touchdowns. Alejandro García caught 21 of those passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns to lead the team. Jesus Gª-Valcárcel was second with 13 receptions for 267 yards and four scores. Running back Daniel Romero was second in the league in rushing with 551 yards on 91 carries.
Las Rozas Black Demons @ Barbera Rookies, May 7, 16:30 CET (4:30 pm, 10:30 am ET)
