ONEFA: Pumas win rivalry showdown as Tigres and Monterrey stay unbeaten in tightening playoff race

Rachid Sabag Serrato | American Football | 10/22/2026

Week 7 of Mexico’s ONEFA season saw Pumas UNAM claim a rivalry victory honoring the legendary Cóndores, while defending champion Auténticos Tigres UANL and Borregos Monterrey maintained their unbeaten records.

Pumas UNAM 24–6 Águilas Blancas IPN: Rivalry victory honors Cóndores legacy

Pumas CU earned its sixth victory of the season, defeating Águilas Blancas IPN 24–6 at Estadio Olímpico Universitario.

The occasion carried special significance as UNAM wore commemorative uniforms honoring the legendary Cóndores and paid tribute to former coach Manuel Neri during the 90th anniversary of the Poli–UNAM rivalry.

Quarterback Lenny Garza threw two touchdown passes, connecting with Jahdiel Ponce for 49 yards and Julio Hernández for three yards. Hussein Santillán added a nine-yard rushing touchdown, while Emiliano Zamora converted a 30-yard field goal.

The Pumas defense dominated, recording interceptions and recovering two additional turnovers to repeatedly shut down IPN’s offense.

Águilas Blancas finally broke through with 2:41 remaining when Axel Aguilar scored on a 19-yard reverse.

Pumas improved to 6–1, while Águilas Blancas dropped to 2–4, putting additional pressure on the latter to regain ground in the standings.

Auténticos Tigres UANL 48–23 Leones Anáhuac México: Ground game powers defending champions

The defending champion Auténticos Tigres UANL remained unbeaten with a convincing 48–23 victory over Leones Anáhuac México at Gaspar Mass Stadium.

Playing in heavy rain, Tigres abandoned any pretense of offensive balance and simply ran the ball down their opponent’s throat.

Ángel Alvarado scored three touchdowns, while Jorge Chaib added two as UANL piled up an astonishing 468 rushing yards compared to just five through the air.

The defense also contributed to the scoring, with Gael Reyes returning an interception for a touchdown.

Leones Anáhuac struggled to match the defending champions’ physicality, particularly against a rushing attack that consistently controlled the line of scrimmage.

Tigres improved to 5–0, while Leones fell to 4–3.

The performance demonstrated that UANL remains dangerous even when weather conditions force a dramatic adjustment to its offensive approach.

Borregos Monterrey 44–21 Burros Blancos IPN: Explosive first half seals victory

Borregos Monterrey improved to 5–0 with a 44–21 road victory over Burros Blancos IPN at Wilfrido Massieu Stadium, using a dominant first half to put the game virtually out of reach.

The visitors raced to a commanding 37–0 halftime lead behind an offense directed by Fernando Sarabia.

Fernando Mayen, Alejandro Elizondo, Fernando Tonda, and Miguel Lozano all contributed to a first-half offensive explosion that left IPN facing an enormous deficit.

To their credit, the Burros Blancos responded after halftime.

Aldo Herrera scored two rushing touchdowns and connected with Mario Hernández on a touchdown pass as the home team attempted to mount a comeback.

However, the damage had already been done.

Monterrey comfortably protected its advantage to remain undefeated, while Burros Blancos were left to reflect on a disastrous opening half that overshadowed an otherwise encouraging offensive response.

Borregos CEM 49–29 Linces UVM: Turnovers prove costly

Borregos CEM picked up its second consecutive victory, defeating Linces UVM 49–29 in a game that remained evenly balanced through the opening two quarters.

With the score tied 21–21 at halftime, CEM took advantage of repeated UVM mistakes to pull away after the break.

The Linces found success through the air, particularly with Ulises Ortiz, who caught three touchdown passes, and Alexis Guzmán.

However, five turnovers and a rushing attack that finished with minus-11 net yards made it nearly impossible for UVM to maintain its early momentum.

CEM improved to 3–4, keeping its playoff ambitions alive, while Linces slipped to 2–4.

The result highlighted how quickly turnovers can transform a competitive game into a comfortable victory for the opposition.

Borregos CCM 49–27 Zorros CETYS: Colín leads offensive resurgence

Borregos Campus Ciudad de México returned to winning form with a 49–27 road victory over Zorros CETYS in Mexicali, keeping its playoff hopes alive.

Quarterback Iker Colín delivered an outstanding performance, throwing four touchdown passes as CCM accumulated 515 yards of total offense.

Colín connected twice with Carlo Confalonieri and once each with José Rodríguez and Carlos Tristán Gámez.

The Borregos finished with 269 passing yards and 246 rushing yards, demonstrating impressive offensive balance.

For CETYS, Gael Arévalo provided much of the offensive production, scoring three rushing touchdowns and catching a 34-yard touchdown pass from Miguel Ernesto Rodríguez.

Despite Arévalo’s four-touchdown performance, the Zorros could not contain CCM’s offense.

The victory sent CCM into its bye week with a 3–4 record, while CETYS remained winless and under increasing pressure in the battle to avoid relegation.

Borregos Puebla 75–0 Leones Anáhuac Cancún: Complete domination

Borregos Puebla delivered the most emphatic victory of the weekend, overwhelming Leones Anáhuac Cancún 75–0 at Coliseo Maya.

The visitors controlled the contest from start to finish, building a 27–0 halftime lead before exploding for 35 third-quarter points.

Cancún had no answer for Puebla’s offensive firepower and struggled throughout against a defense that refused to surrender a point.

The victory lifted Puebla to 4–3, providing a timely boost in the playoff race, while Anáhuac Cancún fell to 1–5.

Beyond the scoreline, the result illustrated the competitive gap that still exists between programs in ONEFA’s 14 Grandes.

While one game cannot explain the underlying causes, the margin highlighted the challenges facing developing programs competing against institutions with greater roster depth, resources, and continuity.