João Pessoa Espectros advance to Brazil Bowl IX with big win over Cerrado Tubarões

Players of João Pessoa Spectros celebrate a berth in Brazil Bowl IX. Photo Amauri Aquino

The João Pessoa Espectros remained unbeaten in 2018 and advanced to the Brazil Bowl for the fifth time in their history by shutting out the Tubarões do Cerrado 19-0,  this past Sunday at the Mané Garrincha Stadium in Brasília .

The Espectros (9-0), winners of the 2015 Brazilian title, displayed their offensive firepower on the first drive of the game as quarterback Rodrigo Dantas drove his team down to the Tubarões 12 yard line. Running back Jonatha Carvalho finished off the drive bursting off tackle for the game’s first touchdown. and João Pessoa took a 6-0 lead.

After that, neither team could gain any momentum as both the Tubaroes and Espectros  struggled moving the ball efficiently.

Finally, midway through the second quarter, Espectros kicker Diego Aranha made good on a 35 yard attempt to increase the lead to 9-0 going into the halftime break.

Early in the third quarter, Cerrado quarterback Lucas Tojal  attempted to connect with wideout Sedrick Lima but was picked off by Carlos Cox (Friends University).

With this team still trailing 9-0 early in the fourth quarter, Tojal was desperate to find the end zone, but was picked off again, this time by linebacker Oshay Dunmore (Southern Oregon) who returned it all the way for a touchdown increasing the lead to 16-0.

Before the end of the game, Aranha kicked another field goal giving  João Pessoa a 19 to 0 lead they would not relinquish.

João Pessoa moves on to face the defending Brazilian champions, Belo Horizonte Galo who defeated Timbó Rex in the other semifinal.

Brazil Bowl IX is scheduled for December 16, at the Almeidão stadium in João Pessoa.

Source: Futebolamericanobrasil.com