LIVESTREAM Tazon Azteca: Team Air Raid Tour @ Team Mexico, Dec. 10, 20:00 CET (8 pm, 2 pm ET)

AFI | American Football | 12/10/2022

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

By Roberto Arturo

The 47th edition of the Tazon Azteca (Aztec Bowl) will be held Saturday, December 10 on the campus of Chapingo University in the State of Mexico. This location was chosen to help celebrate the 85th anniversary of the University.

Team Mexico comprises 80 players coming from the 33 teams and three conferences that form the ONEFA (Organización Nacional Estudiantil de Fútbol Americano) college football league. The majority of the players come from the two schools that just played in the ONEFA college championship final – the Borregos Salvajes Monterrey, winners of the 2022 ONEFA title, and Autenticos Tigres UANL. They are represented by 11 and 10 players, respectively. In third place, the Aguilas Blancas from IPN are represented by nine players, as well as the head coach, Enrique Zarate.

Some players to follow from the Mexican side include running backs Fernando Mayen from Borregos Puebla and Axel Montini from Autenticos Tigres, as well as the recently crowned championship quarterback Emilio Elizondo. On defense, the team will have the defensive ends Renato Avila, from Potros UAEM and Humberto Bengochea, from Aztecas UDLAP, as well as linebacker Diego Pareyon, the defensive leader of the Pumas CU UNAM.

Tazon Azteca: Team Air Raid @ Team Mexico, Dec. 10, 20:00 CET (8 pm, 2 pm ET)

Team Air Raid Tour will feature a mix of players from all NCAA divisions and is led by legendary college coach Hal Mumme, one of the originators of the air raid offense. Mumme coached at Valdosta State, Kentucky, SE Louisiana, New México State, McMurry, and Belhaven and was offensive coordinator at SMU. He also coached in The Spring League and the XFL. The principles of the air raid offense are still used by some NFL teams, including Kliff Kingsbury’s Arizona Cardinals.

Leading the offense there will be two interesting prospects for the professional level: Jake Constantine, a quarterback from Division I Rice University, as well as Cooper Callis, who last played at Southwest Baptist University (NCAA Div. II). Other schools represented include Texas A&M University-Commerce, with eight players, as well as Tarleton State University and Texas College, with three players each.

The ONEFA all-star team has won the last four meetings against the college all-star teams (the game was last played in that format in 2018).