In a repeat of last year’s title game, the undefeated Las Rozas Black Demons will take on Osos Rivas Saturday, April 29 at the Municipal Sports Center of El Cantizal in Las Rozas, a suburb of Madrid in the 2023 Spanish Championship Game.
Osos Rivas enter the game looking for their third Spanish title while Las Rozas will be appearing in their fourth consecutive Spanish Bowl, still seeking their first championship.
Osos Rivas won the 2022 championship after defeating the Black Demons 28-12 but so far this year, Las Rozas has won both contests between the two although by the slimmest of margins, 3-2 and 7-0.
The Black Demons downed the Zaragoza Hurricanes 41-0 in one semifinal while Osos Rivas defeated the Badalona Dracs 26-21 in the other.
Under the leadership of head coach Sam Eisenstadt, and with Canadian quarterback Theo Landers under center, the Black Demons boast an impressive roster. The ground game – with running backs Daniel Romero, Marcos de la Mata and Javier Carrasco not to mention Landers as well – is one of the key weapons of the team. Landers is also a threat in the air, with a list of excellent receivers at his disposal including Matías Castagno, Jorge García Vargas, Alejandro García as well as the brothers Jorge and Jesús García-Valcárcel. Las Rozas scored an average of 32.2 points a game and the superb defense followed suit surrendering a mere 6.1 points a game.
Osos Rivas, meanwhile, will be defending the crown they won last year after a season in which they have only lost two games, both against Black Demons.
Everything points, then, to another great battle between two teams that know each other well and that have the two best defenses in the league. The Osos produced the same numbers on defense as their opponents over the nine games (including the playoff game) they have played (6.1 points/game).
Head coach Ricardo Martín’s offense however will need to step it up today as they averaged only 22.5 points a contest. Quarterback QB Sergio Barbero will rely on American running back Ronald Tomasello along with wide receivers David Girón and Iván Iordanov. The defensive secondary features defensive backs Andy Vera, Sam Taylor, Rodrigo Gardeta and Juan Antonio Escobar.
In addition to being the Spanish Championship, the game also counts as a Central European Football League, CEFL, playoff game.
Osos Rivas vs Las Rozas Black Demons, April 29, 17:30 CET, (5:30 pm, 11:30 am EDT)
