LIVESTREAM: Spain – Osos Rivas @Gijon Mariners, Sat. Feb. 8, 12p CET (6 ET)

AFI | American Football | 02/08/2020

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

Madrid’s Osos Rivas (2-1) travel to Gijon, Spain Saturday, February 8 to face the Gijon Mariners (0-2) as the Spanish League of American Football heads into its fourth weekend of play.

The Mariners are coming off two straight close losses after dropping an 8-6 decision to the Zaragoza Hurricanes two weeks ago. Gijon had opened the season with a 29-22 defeat at the hands of the L’Hospitalet Pioners to start the year. In that contest, the Mariners held a 21-20 lead with less than four minutes remaining before L’Hospitalet scoring the winning touchdown.

Osos are coming off a pair of wins after blanking the Zaragoza Hurricanes two weeks ago 34-0 and overwhelming the L’Hospitalet Pioners 49-28 the week before that. Osos had dropped the opening game of the year to the Badalona Dracs 10-7.

Mariners head coach Daniel Castañón, has an all Spanish lineup and is testing the skills of the club’s junior players who have moved up.

Osos Rivas quarterback Kevin Burke has been fine form throwing four touchdown passes against the Hurricanes, two to Guatamanlen receiver David Girón and two to Mario Flores. In the win over the Pioners, Burke tossed seven touchdown passes, six of them to Girón who had just joined the team. Flores hauled in touchdown pass number seven.

With six touchdowns, Giron leads the Spanish league in scoring with 48 points.

This will be a tough matchup for Gijon, despite the fact that it is a home game. Burke & Co. under the guidance of head coach Jesus Sanchez, are hitting their stride and will be contenders for the Spanish crown in 2020.