The UDLAP Aztecas (Aztecas la Universidad de las Américas) scored a touchdown with almost no time left on the clock to edge the ITESM Borregos of Monterrey (Puebla y los Borregos del ITESM Monterrey) 43-40 in a battle reminiscent of the battles waged between these two in the 1990s and win the CONADEIP championship for the fourth time.
This was the eighth meeting in the final between these two teams and with the win the Aztecas evened the record to 4-4. Monterrey had taken the lead by winning the game in 2015.
Wide receiver Robin Gonzalez caught three touchdown passes, including the final two to take the lead and was named game MVP.
Forty-two point third quarter
The two teams exploded for 42 third quarter points to break open a tight game. UDLAP had taken a 14-13 halftime lead before Monterrey’s defense forced a fumble in the Aztecas end zone pouncing on it to take a 19-14 lead. Then Aztecas quarterback Alfredo Linares fumbled at his own 16 yard line and Monterrey returned it for another quick score to take a 26-14 lead.
Linares finally settled down and connected with Humberto Noriega to close the gap to 26-22. But Monterrey struck back as Julio Vázquez found Pedro Magallanes to increase the lead to 33-22.
The Aztecas responded once again as Diego Ruiz found Sebastian Olvera from five yards out to narrow the gap to 33-29. But Monterrey’s Fernando Villanueva returned the kickoff 96 yards to again extend the lead to 11, 40-29. Monterrey had scored four touchdowns to the Aztecas two in the third quarter and looked like they could hold on for the win.
Then with UDLAP’s defense keeping Monterrey in check, the offense went to work in the fourth quarter. Ruiz threw a 66 yard touchdown pass to Gonzalez to bring the Aztecas closer 40-35. Then Ruiz found him again this time from 29 yards out to give UDLAP the lead 41-40. They added the two-point conversion for good measure and held on for the win.