Parana HP – 7
White Sharks-Istepos (WSI) – 6
Arena Top Line – Curitiba, Parana
Stellar defense once again leads the way for the Parana HP as the club tops the White Sharks-Istepos (WSI) sealing the #3 seed in the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol Americano (CBFA) playoffs.
The WSI opened the games scoring, with a hard-earned, tackle-breaking run from bruising running back, Marcos Ramos, but the HP defense hung tough and did what they always do: create turnovers.
Watch here as White Sharks-Istepos running back, Marcos Ramos, plows his way through multiple HP defenders into the end zone.
Tiago Dalcanale and Jimmy Goosen each had an interception, and the electric Anderson Kvas blocked a punt for the opportunistic HP defense, setting up a short field for their offense on multiple occassions. HP linebacker, Victor Yamuthi, was a key to stopping the WSI rushing attack.
Workhorse running back, Fred Taurus, ran tough all day long for the team from Parana, and powered the ball in the end zone in the final two minutes of the game to knot the score at 6. Kicker, Lucas Copi, fired through the subsequent extra point that would be the difference maker for the HP in their one point victory.
Watch here as HP running back, Fred Tauras, gets his team into the end zone in the games closing minutes, to tie the score.
This game closed out the regular season for both playoff-bound teams.
‘’To go far in the playoffs, we need to hold on to the football and avoid turnovers,’’ said Kvas, who has created turnovers all season long for the HP defense.
‘’It’s a new league and the teams (in the playoffs) have regional rivalries,’’ said star-linebacker-turned-defensive coordinator (after a season-ending knee injury), Eduardo Murillo Viana. Anything can happen.’’
AFI’s take: This sets up #2-#3 seed matchup with the crosstown Curitiba Crocodiles, in what will assuradely be another exciting chapter in this rivalry. The HP defense looks as strong as ever, but their offense will need to convert red zone opportunities to advance in the playoffs.