Defending Spanish national champions, the Badalona Dracs (1-0) return to the field for the first time in six weeks Sunday, January 31 as they host the undefeated (2-0) Mallorca Voltors.
In the only game they have played so far in the Spanish League of American Football season, back in mid December, Badalona ran over the Zaragoza Hurricanes 51-6. Meanwhile, the Voltors have managed to play two games first beating the Murcia Cobras in mid December, 33-7 and then taking care of business on their home field two weeks ago, also beating Zaragoza, 35-13.
Three of the four games scheduled 14 days ago were canceled/postponed due to heavy snow and also COVID-19. This week, only one game in Spain has been postponed.
Since whipping the Hurricanes in December, Badalona has made some eyebrow-raising personnel moves. Athletic wide receiver/defensive back Niko Lester returns to the Dracs for the 2021 season. Lester was part of the Dracs pandemic-shortened season one year ago, and spent the rest of 2020 playing in Denmark (Triangle Razorbacks) and Sweden (Carlstad Crusaders). Joining Lester on the outside will be another new wide receiver addition, this time lanky 6’2″ Austrian Dario Dobrolevski. Dobrolevski has experience playing for the Mödling Rangers in Austria, as well as the Dusseldorf Panther, and Allgäu Comets in Germany. The two new playmakers will be exciting weapons for another one of Badalona’s newest signings, quarterback Cory Benedetto. Bennedetto is an experienced quarterback who played his college ball at SUNY Morrisville, before heading to Germany (Ingolstad Dukes) and Italy (Torino Giaguari). Look for these two new additions to build a solid connection as the season wears on.
Mallorca Voltors @ Badalona Dracs, Jan. 31, 12:00 CET (06:00 ET)
Bennedotto on being in Spain with his new team:
“It feels great to be here in Badalona with a team who is just as motivated to win as I am. We have a lot of great talent on the team and I’m excited to showcase our skills on Sunday.”
Defensively, the Dracs also added American edge defender Mike Taylor. Taylor is a Louisiana native and former college football player from Georgetown University (NCAA FCS Patriot League). Taylor will replace Austrian linebacker Dustin Ilichecko who was injured in the team’s first game. Look for Taylor to fit in well with the well-oiled machine that is the Dracs defense.
For the Voltors, they are one of only two teams that have played since mid December due to the snowstorm and holiday break. Two weeks ago, in the Voltors big home win against the Hurricanes, the dynamic duo of quarterback Tanner Young and wideout Jaylon Hibbs combined for three touchdowns and 113 yards. Young and Hibbs were teammates at Centre College (NCAA D3 Kentucky) before heading to Australia and now Spain together. Linebacker Kadel King and the Voltors defense shut down the Hurricanes forcing two fumbles and an interception.
Young is looking forward to facing the defending champs:
“History and film both show that the Dracs are a great team. They seem to be well coached and have talent all over the field. We are looking forward to getting back out on the field and competing. We are all very fortunate to have the opportunity to play during these times and we are not taking any chance for granted.”
The Badalona Dracs go into this season as heavy favorites to win the Spanish title again, but this Mallorca team has a lot of talent and has a chance this weekend to prove to European football fans that they are a legitimate contender for the Spanish title.
Watch the game live on AFI.tv. Mallorca Voltors @ Badalona Dracs, Jan. 31, 12:00 CET (06:00 ET)