Lisboa Devils Power On Full Display As Portuguese Season Winds Down

| Algarve Pirates | 02/09/2017

With only three weeks remaining in the Portuguese League of American Football regular season things are getting crazier. Also, Super  Bowl weekend gave the league excellent coverage from local TV stations and newspapers reporting on the current state of American Football in Portugal.

The Lisboa Devils, playing at home, displayed their entire arsenal and then some in handing the Algarave Pirates an embarrassing 98-6 loss. In a game that coaches hate to coach the Devils scored five touchdowns in the first quarter alone allowing for the mercy rule (run time) for the remainder of the contest.

Running back Willian La’Prado rushed for four touchdowns, Gonçalo Matos added three more on the ground while quarterback Joey Bradley rushed for one and threw for four more in the rout. Receiver Collin Franklin caught two while Bruno Cardoso and Jorge Cardoso had one receiving touchdown each.

However the  Pirates did manage to score on the first drive of the second half with quarterback Alexandre Ascenção connecting with wide receiver João Marreiros.

In Braga, the Braga Warriors downed the Paredes Lumberjacks 28-8 in a game that is hotly contested every year. Until this year that is. The Warriors took control early and kept their winning streak against the Lumberjacks alive. With the loss, Paredes, who have struggled this year, was eliminated from playoff contention.

The touchdowns for the Warriors were scored by quarterback Tiago Ranhada (2 rushing) and running back Ricardo Pereira (2 rushing). For the Lumberjacks the touchdown was scored by Vítor Ribeiro (rushing) while AJ Brown made the two point conversion.

Braga was also the scene of the biggest surprise of the weekend. The second place Sharks traveled more then 600 kms to face the Black Knights who were facing a “do or die” situation for the playoffs. The game was remained in doubt until late when the Black Knights scored for the win.

The Sharks touchdown was scored by John Holloway on a big run and the first touchdown by the Black Knights was scored by Tiago Carreira on a run as well. The final touchdown that gave the surprising win to the home team was also scored by Carreira on a fumble that was recovered in the end zone. The Black Knights then elected to go for a two point conversion and they kept the lead until the final whistle.

The final result was 14-6 and with it the Black Knights got their third win of the season and remain in playoff contention.

Upcoming games Feb. 11

Lisboa Navigators – Porto Renegades

Algarve Pirates – Porto Mutts

Algarve Sharks – Paredes Lumberjacks

André Amorim has been involved in American Football in Portugal for over 9 years, having played and coached in the only two teams that have won championships in that country. From 2007 to 2013 he played and coached with the Lisboa Navigators the