LIVESTREAM: Mexico – ONEFA Championship Final – Burros Blancos IPN v. Águilas Blancas IPN, Sat. Nov. 9, 10:30a (11:30a ET, 5:30p CET)

AFI | American Football | 11/09/2019

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Burros Blancos IPN (6-1) will face the Águilas Blancas IPN (5-2) in the ONEFA ((Organización Nacional Estudiantil de Futbol Americano) championship final Saturday, November 9 at Estadio Azul in Mexico City.

This is the first time in 30 years that the ONEFA title game pits two IPN (Polytechnic) schools. The Aguilas are seeking their sixth title

These two teams met once during the regular season with the Burros Blancos coming out on top 23-16.

The Burros Blancos roared out to a 6-0 record before being stopped by Leones Anáhuac 45-21 in the last regular season game. They avenged that loss by soundly beating the Leones in the semifinals, 31-16. The Aguilas dropped two games, one to the Pumas CU in the season opener, 28-7 and then against the Burros 23-16. They avenged the loss to the Pumas in the semifinals, downing them 15-10.

The Burros boast the best quarterback in the ONEFA in Alex Garcia who threw for a league-best 1,662 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for seven more. His leading receivers are Luis Garcia (# 2 with 441 yards), Emilio Alvarado (# 7 with 248 yards), Rodrigo Aquino (# 8 with 239 yards) and Emilio García (# 10 with 224 yards).

In addition, rookie running back Julio Hurtado led the league with 645 all purpose yards (rushing, receiving, returning).

On the defensive side, the Burros had the best secondary giving up just 143 passing yards a game. Veteran César Mandujano, who finished with 47 tackles on the season, was third best in the league while linebacker Alejandro Cornejo finished with 30, good for seventh place.

The Aguilas offense is powered by the ground game led by running back Emilio Fernández who topped the league in rushing yardage (531) and seven touchdowns while Ángel Gutiérrez added 455 yards and six touchdowns. Quarterback Ricardo Angüis did an excellent job of managing the offense.

Defensively, the Aguilas allowed 17 points a game, second best in the ONEFA. César Pérez anchored a defensive front seven, recording a league-leading eight sacks with Luis Ochoa finishing right behind him in second, with seven. Linebacker/safety Emmanuel Cajiga is the heart and soul of the Aguilas defense and had 52 tackles on the year, second best, and was the co-leader in interceptions picking off the quarterback four times.

So the top passing team in the ONEFA is going up against the leading rushing team.

This promises to be a game for the ages.