The Mayas evened their record at 1-1 by holding off a late-game surge to beat the Dinos (0-2) 28-25 at Olympic Stadium Saturday in second weekend of play in Mexico’s Liga de Futbol Americano Profesional (LFA).
With the win, the Mayas climbed into the win column and regained a measure of respect after their opening round shutout at the hands of the Raptors last week.
The victory was hard fought though.
Running back Omar Cojolum was the difference in this game scoring three rushing touchdowns, the third to put the game away in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Marco Garcia threw a touchdown pass to Josué Martínez but was picked off twice in the first half. He was benched to start the second half but, his replacement José Luis Canales was intercepted for a touchdown so Garcia returned and engineered the final, winning touchdown.
The Dinos fell behind 14-6 at the half mustering only a pair of field goals with Cojolum scoring both touchdowns for the Mayas.
Dinos quarterback Alberto Garcia struggled and rookie Jesus Mata Charles came in just before the half and immediately made a difference connecting with wide receiver Gerardo Álvarez to pull the Dinos closer, 14-12.
Then, early in the third quarter Mata Charles found Alvarez again to give the Dinos the lead 19-14.
Dinos defensive back José Alfonsín then intercepted Canales taking it all the way for a touchdown extending the Dinos lead to 25-14.
But with Marco Garcia’s return to the game, the Mayas settled down after Garcia first threw a 25 yard touchdown pass to Josué Martínez, and Christian Gómez added a two-point conversion to pull within three, 25-22. Then Cojolum went back to work following a Garcia to Jair Viamontes 37 yard pass. He scored his third touchdown and the Mayas managed to thwart a last second 33 yard field goal attempt by Dinos kicker Óscar Reza to come away with a crucial victory.
Next week, Mayas will be at home at Estadio Jesús ‘Palillo’ Martínez to face the Condors while the Dinos will play host to the Mexicas.
Check out the game highlights
