For the second consecutive year, an unbeaten Raptors team has run into a hornet’s nest and this year it was in the shape of the visiting Monterrey Fundidores who whipped them 45-15 in the third week of the Liga de Futbol Americano Profesional de Mexico (LFA).
The Raptors rolled into the game after winning the first two games of the season in lopsided fashion, first blanking the Mayas 32-0 and then rolling over the Condors 46-26.
The Fundidores were not impressed.
The Fundidores spotted the Raptors seven points in the first quarter after Raptors quarterback Bruno Márquez connected with Juan Carlos Castillo for the game’s opening touchdown.
Then it was all Fundidores.
In the second quarter, the visitors capitalized on Raptors miscues errors as Sergio Canti picked off a Marquez pass and Adrian Flores then scored from four yards out, adding the two point conversion to give the Fundidores the lead, 8-7. Then David Vilarreal forced the punter to fumble and Dezerick Reed scored to increase the lead to 15-7. And right before the break, quarterback Robert Vega connected with Aaron Mendoza to give the Fundidores a 21-7 lead.
On the final Fundidores possession before halftime, running back Luis de la Torre escaped for a 64 yard ramble and Villarreal scored on the two point conversion and the Fundidores went into the halftime break up 29-7.
In the second half, Vega took off for a 60 yard run and then Gustavo Padilla carried the ball in from the 11 and the Fundidores led 37-7 in the third quarter.
Marquez was finally able to respond with a touchdown pass to Enrique Barrasa to narrow the gap to 37-15. But Vega answered with a long scoring pass to Luis Araujo to finalize the score at 45-15.
With the win, the Fundidores (2-1) take over first place in the North division of the LFA.