The Borregos ITESM Toluca stunned the college football world in Mexico by defeating the heavily favored Aztecas UDLAP 31-28 in front of a crowd of 5,000 at to win the CONADEIP (La Comisión Nacional Deportiva Estudiantil de Instituciones Privadas) title for the first time in their history.
Facing an Aztecas team that had dominated the league in 2017 and beaten them twice during the regular season 28-0 and 28-7, the Toluca dug deep, and with just over a minute left, kicked a 49 yard field goal to break a 28-28 tie and win the game.
This was the first title for Toluca since 1997 when they won the ONEFA crown.
Toluca quarterback Max Lara threw two touchdown passes, both to game MVP Jhovany Haro while Enrique Yenny kicked three field goals, the final one with 1:42 left to win the game. Andres Garcia returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.
For the Aztecas, quarterback Diego Ruiz threw three touchdown passes, two of them to to Sebastian Olvera while Jean-Cleaude Madin hauled in one. Running back Kevin Correa also added a rushing touchdown.
Photo: Rafael Jimenez Arriaga
The Borregos opened the scoring when Lara found Haro from 23 yards out midway through the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead. UDLAP answered on the next drive with a pass from Ruiz to Madin of 57 yards to tie the game at 7-7.
A fumble by the Borregos on the next possession gave the ball back to Ruiz and the Aztecas and they capitalized with Olvera catching his first touchdown pass of the game from 28 yards out and with a two-point conversion, UDLAP moved out in front 15-7.
This time Lara responded engineering a 65 yard drive with Yenny kicking a 31 yard field goal to pull closer 15-10 just before the half.
Toluca opened the third quarter with a 90 yard drive highlighted by a 30 ayrd reception by Ignacio Martinez and an incredible 45 yard touchdown catch by Haro who eluded the entire Aztecas secondary to score. Lara found Alejandro Torres for the two-point conversion and Toluca pulled ahead 18-15.
Then Ruiz mounted a 62 yard drive culminating with a one yard run by Correa to retake the lead, 21-18.
Aztecas defensive back Joel Lopez picked off Lara returning the ball 45 yards to the five yard line and Ruiz made the Borregos pay with a five yard pass to Olvera to extend the UDLAP lead to 28-18.
The Toluca defense stepped up two possessions later when Andrés García returned a blocked punt 12 yards to pull within 28-25 with plenty of time left.
Photo: Rafael Jimenez Arriaga
With the defense now keeping the Aztecas in check, Yenny kicked a 32 yard field goal on the next Borregos drive tying the score at 28-28.
A fourth down stop by the Borregos defense with four minutes left allowed Lara and the offense a chance to gain control of the game, and they did. Using up almost three minutes, Toluca moved the ball down to the 32 yard line and Yenny made no mistake kicking a 49 yard field goal to regain the lead 31-28.
The Toluca defense did the rest recovering a fumble by Correa to seal the win and the championship.
The Borregos Toluca will now play for the national championship against the Pumas CU next weekend in Toluca.