LIVESTREAM: Mexico – Saltillo Dinos @Mexico City Condors, Sunday, March 1, 12 noon (1p ET, 7p CET)

AFI | American Football | 03/01/2020

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The 3-0 and defending LFA champions, the Mexico City Condors will take on the winless 3-0 Saltillo Dinos Sunday, February 23 as the Liga de Futbol Americano (LFA) winds up its fourth weekend of play.

The Mexico City squad is the highest-scoring team in the LFA having scored 85 points but also has the top defense, allowing just 35 points in three games. The Dinos have put 65 points up in the three games they have played but allowed 54.

The Dinos opened the season with a 12-10 win over the Artilleros, beat the Fundidores 23-15 on the road and then edged the Raptors 30-29 last week. Mexico City opened the season with a 29-7 victory over the Pioneros, then downed Osos 27-10 and last week defeated the Artilleros 29-18.

The Dinos boast a total of seven imports on the team including two Canadians from the CFL-LFA Draft. Saltillo had the first overall pick in the draft of Canadian players and with it selected offensive lineman Ben Koczwara from London, Ont. The former Waterloo Warrior was previously selected in the eighth round of the 2018 CFL Draft by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Also featured on the Dinos roster is running back Bryce Vyeira who has been on the rosters of both the Redblacks and Saskatchewan Roughriders. Defensive back Kelton Davis (Western Kentucky) is in his second year with the team while linebacker Anthony Patrick (Bethel) is in his first. The defensive line is anchored by Senquay Eichelberger (Tennessee Tech) and massive, 6’6″, 270-pound Jadarius Ceasar from Tuscaloosa, Alabama who played for the SMU Huskies in Canada. Wide receiver Jaylon Mosley (Ole Miss) gives Saltillo a potent aerial attack.

Condors quarterback Diego Pérez Arvizu (1) tops the league with 1,006 yards passing and a 56.25% completion percentage. His key receivers are Luis David Martínez (11) and Said Salazar (13). Defensively, Mexico City is anchored by defensive lineman César Pérez Durán (92) and linebacker Luis Zárate (26).

For the Condors to win this game against the third highest-scoring offense in the league, they will have to come out stronger than they have in their three games so far. They have been able to produce strong second halves but in this contest, they cannot afford to spot the Dinos too many points. It could cost them.