LIVESTREAM: Mexico – Puebla Artilleros v. Toluca Osos, Sunday, March 8, 12 noon local time (1p ET, 7p CET)

AFI | American Football | 03/08/2020

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The 0-3 Puebla Artilleros will be striving for their first win of the season when they take on the 1-3 Toluca Osos Sunday, March 8 as Mexico’s Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA) winds up its fifth round of play.

Puebla was beaten 29-18 by the Condors last week after losing two close contests, dropping a 12-10 decision to the Dinos and a 26-24 game to the Mexico City Mexicas. Meanwhile, Toluca lost to the Raptors 23-7 last week after having beaten the Mexicas the week before in a thriller, 16-15. The Osos had opened the season with two straight losses, to the Fundidores, 20-14 and the Condors, 27-10.

For the Artilleros, quarterback Diego Ruíz Gómez has a “range” of options with wide receivers Humberto Noriega (6), Rodrigo Arias (31) and Eduardo Retana (81). Running backs Raymundo Torres (28) and Juan Antonio Hernández (39) lead a solid ground game.

The team from Puebla has also struggled defensively, giving up 67 points in the three losses while the offense has not fared much better scoring 52 points. Osos has only managed 47 points in four contests while giving up a whopping 85.

For the Osos, Chris Jeffrey (15) will likely start against in today’s game with Hanscel López Dottor backing him up. Key receivers are Julian Crandall (6) who had two touchdown catches in the team’s only win, and Mario Salas (7). All three running backs, Roberto Hernández (4), Dominique Carson (16) and Jesús Valderrama (21) will all likely see action.