The Mexicas secured a spot in the playoffs in handing the Raptors their their third loss of the 2018 season on the weekend, beating them 30-20 in Mexico City as the Liga de Futbol Americano (LFA) heads towards the end of its season.
The win gives the Mexicas a 3-2 record and firmly ahead of the last place Condors in the Central Division while the Raptors find their playoff hopes in doubt falling to 2-3 in the hard-fought Northern Division.
Neverthless, it was the Raptors who struck first, scoring on their first offensive series as running back Alberto Ruiz Laguna (34) found a seam and raced 41 yards for a touchdown. Felix Guerrero kicked the extra point and the Raptors had an early 7-0 lead.
That was the last lead they would have though as the Mexicas scored 24 unanswered points before the Raptors could get on the scoreboard again.
Gerardo Ramos escaping for a 23 yard TD
Quarterback Ricardo Quintana threw four touchdown passes the first to Guillermo Villalobos for a spectacular 49 yard touchdown. Then Quintana found wide receiver Diego Castro for two more scores giving the Mexicas an 18-7 lead at the half.
The Mexicas quarterback continued in the third quarter hitting wide receiver Gerardo Ramos with a 23 yard touchdown pass that almost ended before it started. Ramos fell when he caught the ball but the surprised Raptors players failed to touch him and he jumped up and rambled 23 yards for the score.
Raptors RB Alberto Ruiz scored the game’s first touchdown
The Raptors finally mounted a comeback as quarterback Bruno Marquez weaved his way into the end zone from the nine yard line to narrow the gap to 24-14. Then Márquez hit José Manuel Barrios for another touchdown and suddenly the game was close with the Mexicas holding a 24-20 lead with plenty of time remaining.
Raptors defensive back Fernando Ramírez picked off a Quintana pass and it looked liked the Raptors could retake the lead. But the Mexicas defense held and Vladimir Araiza scored on another big play, scampering 71 yards for the game’s final touchdown.
Next week the Raptors travel to Saltillo to face the Dinos while the Mexicas will be at the “Palillo” Martinez to play the Mayas (3-1).