Spain: Badalona Dracs outlast Valencia Firebats in high-scoring Eastern Conference showdown

The Badalona Dracs handed the Valencia Firebats (2-1) their first loss of the season in a back-and-forth thriller, securing a hard-fought 38–25 home victory to improve to 3–1 and solidify their playoff positioning in the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano’s Eastern Conference.

Firebats strike first
Valencia came out strong, with quarterback McCallum Foote connecting with receiver Roque Alarcón for an early touchdown and a 7-0 lead. But the Dracs responded quickly as quarterback Pol Singleton found Eric Gracia for a score, followed by a successful two-point conversion from Eloi Soler to take an 8–7 advantage after one quarter.

Back-and-forth battle continues
The second quarter saw more fireworks. Foote hit Daniel Díaz for another Firebats touchdown, and after a two-point conversion by Pablo Estellés, Valencia led 15-8. Badalona answered immediately with a spectacular kickoff return touchdown from newcomer Edward Mangun, cutting the deficit to 15-14. A wild sequence followed when the Dracs failed a two-point try, resulting in a defensive return by Willem Jore-Sastre that gave Valencia two points and a 17-14 edge. Just before halftime, Singleton connected deep with Soler for a touchdown, and another two-point conversion—this time by Gracia—gave Badalona a 22–17 lead at the break.

Dracs pull away late
Badalona extended their lead in the third quarter with a rushing touchdown from Soler and another two-point conversion from Gracia, making it 30–17. But Valencia refused to go quietly. In the fourth quarter, Foote found Estellés for a score, and Díaz added the two-point conversion to pull within five at 30–25. With the game on the line in the final minutes, Soler delivered once more, punching in his third touchdown of the day on the ground. David Martínez sealed the win with another two-point conversion, bringing the final score to 38–25.

The win keeps the Dracs firmly in the conference race, while the Firebats—despite the loss—showed they belong among the league’s top contenders in a game that lived up to its billing as a must-see matchup.