The Brazilian national team, the Brazil Onças relied on an overwhelming ground game to shut out the Argentina Halcones 38-0 in a downpour at Mineirão stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil Saturday.
This was the first game ever between the two nations and Brazil definitely proved how far they have developed in the 10 years since they first put a national team on the field in an international contest.
The Onças amassed 269 yards rushing while holding Argentina to -34. That was the game. In the pouring rain, neither team could throw the ball with Brazil’s two quarterbacks, Álvaro Fadini and Rodrigo Dantas completing just three of 14 passes for 14 yards. Running back Eduardo Maranhão scored three touchdowns while Everton “Pingo” Antero scored the lone passing touchdown. Running back Branco Meneses added an 89 yard touchdown in the final quarter. The Onças defense forced two safeties. Diego Aranha kicked four of five extra points.
Photo Thaina Monteiro
In a fumble-filled, mistake-prone contest, Argentina simply could not move the ball or even hold on to it. The slippery conditions led to plenty of fumbled footballs with Brazil able to do a better job of ball security. In fact, Argentina ended the game with -35 yards of offense.
Brazil took a 16-0 halftime lead on two of Maranhão ‘s three touchdowns while Brazilian defensive tackle Edilson “Jow” trapped Argentinian quarterback Leonardo Degrazia in the end zone producing a safety.
Brazil forced another safety to open the third quarter and then Maranhão found a seam and raced 42 yards to complete the hat trick. With the score 25-0 in favor of Brazil, Argentina continued to struggle holding on to the ball with Brazilian linebacker Luis Polastri pouncing on a loose ball at the Argentina 15 yard line. Dantas hit Antero on the next play to extend the lead to 32-0.
Meneses wound up the scoring in the fourth quarter with his 89 yard touchdown run.
This was Brazil’s first game since the 2015 IFAF World Championships.
Watch the game highlights
