LIVESTREAM Spain: Gijon Mariners @ Murcia Cobras, Feb. 26, 17:00 CET (5 pm, 11 am ET)
The 2-1 Murcia Cobras will play host to the 1-2 Gijon Mariners as the Spanish National League of American Football, LNFA, heads into its fifth round of play Saturday.
The Cobras are coming off a tough 35-0 loss to Madrid’s Osos Rivas after winning their first two games of the season, beating Las Rozas Black Demons 17-13 and the Fuengirola Potros, 47-14. Meanwhile, Gijon won their first game of the season in week three, downing Fuengirola 30-27 after losing the first two games of the year, 34-17 to Osos Rivas and 49-3 to the Black Demons.
Murcia enters the game with a new quarterback as former Humboldt State signal caller AJ Mintz has been called in to replace Robert Cuda, who will miss the rest of the season due to an undisclosed injury. Otherwise, the Cobras will rely on running back Eduardo Pérez, who has a pair of touchdowns in Murcia’s four games. Mintz will have a solid receiving corps to target including Javier Martínez and the always exciting Alpha Jalloh.
The Cobras‘ defense has been steady but not spectacular, giving up only 27 points in the first two games but surrendering 35 in the loss to Osos Rivas.
Gijon won their first game of the season in week 4 in beating the Potros but have lost the services of defensive standout Michael Spears Jr. which will no doubt have a bearing on today’s contest. Still, Mexican quarterback Daniel de Juambeiz has been solid throwing scoring passes to Mariners wideouts César Sawane (2), Ibai Mejuto (1) and Ricardo Sáinz (1) while rushing for a pair of touchdowns himself in the three games played. However, to have any luck against the Cobras, the running game led by Javier Castañón will need to open up.