Lisbon Center Stage As Undefeated Teams Clash In Portugal

This past weekend Lisbon was center stage for all games in the Portuguese League of American Football, LPFA.

All games were scheduled for Saturday so that gave us an American Football Saturday in Portugal. This was also the weekend of the undefeateds as four of the six teams going into the field were undefeated and facing each other.

Lisboa Devils 30 – Maia Renegades 0

This was a battle between undefeated teams in Portugal and the Lisboa Devils came out on top in very dominant fashion, especially on defense. In the first half of the game only one touchdown was scored with quarterback Joey Bradley connecting with Collin Franklin. With heavy rains pounding the field, the kicking game was impossible, so the home team always went for two points with Bradley throwing to Bernardo Solipa.

In the second half the Devils scored three more times, always on run plays, two by the Bradley and another one by Willian La’Prado. Two of the three 2-point conversions were converted with passes to Pedro Almeida and Bernardo Solipa again. The Renegades couldn’t get much done on offense were they only had three first downs in the entire game. The final score was 30-0 to the home team who remain undefeated.

Braga Black Knights 22 – Lisboa Navigators  0

The Navigators with a 1-1-0 hosted the Black Knights who entered the game 0-2 and were still looking for the first win.

In the first half no points were scored with both offenses exchanging drives and defenses coming out on top. The first touchdown of the game was scored by Manuel Carvalho on a pass by Ricardo Lopes. Manuel Carvalho then ran the two point conversion in. On the following possession, the Navigators offense fumbled the ball in their own end zone and Black Knights linebacker Tiago Carreira recovered the ball and added more points to the visiting team. The two point conversion was good.

Near the end of the game the Black Knights would still score again on a run by Ricardo Lopes and the two point conversion was stopped by the Navigators defense. The final score was 22-0 for the visiting team. In a game where the Navigators offense could not score any points (the first time in eight years this has happened) the Black Knights come away with a big road win and their first win in the league this year.

Porto Mutts 28 – Cascais Crusaders 6

In the other “battle of undefeated” teams in the league, the Porto Mutts traveled to Cascais to face the Crusaders. In a game where both defenses scored more points then both offenses there are two players that really come out on top. Wide receiver Chris Miranda for the Porto Mutts scored two touchdowns on offense (the only offensive touchdowns of the game) and Diogo Magalhães scored two defensive touchdowns for the visiting team as well. Adding a safety and two XP conversions was Hélio Reis, the kicker for the Mutts.

The only points on the home team were scored on a fumble recovered by Suel Mendes and the XP were not converted. The Crusaders offense didn’t score any points something that hasn’t happened in some years. The final result was 28-6 for the Mutts.

Next week’s games in Portugal (all times local)

Saturday, Mutts @ Warriors in Campo da Caseta at 4:00 PM
Sunday, Sharks @ Navigators in Campo do Palmense at 2:30 PM
Sunday, Pirates @ Lumberjacks in Cidade Desportiva de Paredes at 2:00 PM