Crucial wins as college football in México heads into final weeks

Mexico’s ONEFA – Organización Nacional Estudiantil de Futbol Americano (National Student Organization of American Football) and  CONADEIP, Comisión Nacional Deportiva Estudiantil de Instituciones Privadas, A.C. (private university league),  have both headed into their late season surges.

The ONEFA is the a league in Mexico made up of most of the public university American football teams in the nation while the CONADEIP is a scholarship league.

Th ONEFA is composed of 23 teams divided between the Green and White and Red conferences, each with its own champion, the Green conference is the highest level, the green and Whiteconference have inter-conference games. The CONADEIP has 11 teams in two conferences, the Libertado and the Independence.

In 2018, a bowl of champions was played, between the champions of the ONEFA, the UNAM Pumas CU and the CONADEIP champion, BORREGOS Toluca, with Toluca capturing their first ever Mexican college title beating the Pumas 16-15.

Let’s take a look at key matchups from this past weekend.

Burros Blancos IPN 36 – Leones UAMN 29

The contending teams always find ways to win. The Leones UAMN wanted to ruin the unbeaten streak of the visiting Burros Blancos IPN but the Burros team had other plans as they erased a 20-0 disadvantage to escape with a big win in overtime.

With an explosive offense during the second half, that managed to score 29 points during regulation time, the Burros Blancos of the National Polytechnic Institute defeated the Leones of the Universidad Anáhuac Norte 36-29, needing overtime to remain undefeated in Week 6 of the Major League of ONEFA.

The Leones could not hold on to a win that already seemed clear, after they scored 20 points in the first half and held the offense of the Burros Blancos that has been one of the most efficient of the whole season so far, in check.

Still in the fourth quarter the Leones were within seconds of winning,  but the Burros Blancos sent the game into overtime with only 10 seconds to play as Carsolio kicked a field goal with 11 seconds on the clock, and the game went to extra time.

The extra series would start with the Burros Blancos very motivated. Alejandro Garcia connected Garcia on the first play for a 1st and goal. One play later, Jesus Sosa Piña carried the ball to the deep zone for his second score, and what would be the eventual victory.

The last word would be in the hands of Víctor López, a very battered Leones quarterback. Expectations were high in the stands of “La Cueva del León”. One the very first play however, Gustavo Orostico intercepted the ball to seal a historic comeback 36-29 in favor of the Burros Blancos.

With this result, the Leones suffered their third setback of the season, which hurts their chances of qualifying. On the other hand, the Polytechnic team reaffirmed its status as a contender by recording its fifth victory in a row.

Tecos UAG beat Lobos BUAP 26-21

Correcaminos UAT vs Leones Negros UAG

Auténticos Tigres 24, Linces UVM México 13 
Potros Salvajes 45, Anáhuac Querétaro 7 
Aguilas Blancas 33, Aguilas UACH 17 
Toros Salvajes 21, Pumas Acátlan 16
Burros Blancos 36, Anáhuac México 29 (TE)
Frailes Tepeyac 24, Lobos UAdeC 20 
Tecos UAG 26,  Lobos BUAP  21
Centinelas CGP 32, Tlahuicas Morelos 29
Corre Victoria 43, Leones Negros UDG 30
Corre Reynosa 14, Halcones UV 0

CONADEIP

Borregos México 17 – Borregos Monterrey 16 

Spectacular score by Andrés Macias Valadez Madero (20), who after receiving the 28-yard pass from his QB Raul Reyes Nuncio (12)

The Borregos Mexico came from behind to beat the Monterrey Borregos 17-16 in the best game of the week in the CONADEIP senior league.

The Borregos MÉX (3-0) did what was necessary in their last two offensive series to down the Borregos MTY (2-1) allowing the dean of Mexican college coaches, Simón Hernández to remain undefeated, although his team is tied in points with the UDLAP Aztecas (2-1).

In the first half, Monterrey only managed a 22-yard field goal by Guajardo to go into the break with a 3-0 advantage.

One the first drive of the third quarter and after forcing the Borregos Mexico to punt badly, leading to a touchdown by Julio César Covarrubias Elizondo (5) on an eight yard reception extending the lead to 10-0 following the extra point by Guajardo.

However, Borregos MEX responded on their next drive with a spectacular score by Andrés Macias Valadez Madero (20), who after receiving the 28-yard pass from his QB Raul Reyes Nuncio (12), headed for the end zone and leaped the final four yards evading two Monterrey defenders to close the gap to 10-7.

But the Monterrey team responded with two Guajardo field goals of 35 yards and 26 yards increasing the lead to 16-7 early in the fourth quarter.

The home team did not stop battling though and after starting an offensive at their 31 yard line, they finished with a field goal of 30 yards from Gachuz to narrow the lead to 16-10.

They completed the comeback with a 52-yard touchdown pass from Reyes to Francisco Viamontes Cotera (17) and as Gachuz kicked the decisive extra point, the fans exploded in delight.

Cimarrones UABC vs Zorros CETYS Mexicalli in big game

CONADEIP

Cimarrones UABC 28, CETYS Mexicali  6 
Borregos Puebla 17, Borregos GDL 3 
Aztecas UDLAP 21, Borregos Toluca 17 
Borregos México 17, Borregos Monterrey 16 
Borregos Qro. 35, CETYS Tijuana 36