Sada Cruzeiro punches ticket to Brazilian semifinals, downs Vila Velha Tritoes

AFI | American Football | 10/30/2017

Sada Cruzeiro celebrating TD Photo: Chiarini Jr

The Belo Horizonte Sada Cruzeiro took an early lead and went on to defeat the Vila Velha Tritoes 21-7 in the Brazilian Football League quarterfinals this past weekend to remain undefeated and advance to the BFA semifinals in their first year in the league.

Cruzeiro’s quarterback Alvaro Fadini threw for a touchdown to wide receiver Hugo Mega and ran one in for another to lead Sada although he threw two interceptions, one for a touchdown. Linebacker Ryan David scored the other touchdown for the Cruzeiro on a pick six in the first quarter.

Tritoes defensive back Novatinho picked off a pass from Fadini and returned to to the end zone to account for Vila Velha’s only touchdown.

With the former head coach of the Tritoes, Dan Levy and seven of his players, including starting quarterback Fadini, all coming from the same club, the game was hyped up enormously in Brazil. In fact, Levy recommended Vila Velha’s head coach Lonnie Hursey for the job so there were storylines aplenty in this game.

Belo Horizonte entered the game as heavy favorites as the top offensive and defensive team in the country. But Hursey’s Tritoes kept the powerful Cruzeiro offense in check throughout the first half as the defensive lines of both teams were in control. The only scoring from either team was from two interceptions and late in the half the two teams were tied 7-7. Fadini finally got the Cruzeiro offense rolling, engineering a drive which saw him cap it with the first offensive touchdown of the game giving Sada a 14-7 lead going into halftime.

The third quarter opened with the Cruzeiro again marching down the field but the Vila Velha defense held deep in their own zone, blocking a field goal attempt by Chaw and the quarter ended 14-7.

Fadini finally connected with Mega in the end zone midway through the fourth quarter extending the lead to 21-7.

With LaParish Lewis at quarterback, the Tritoes moved into the Cruzeiro red zone with Lewis finding Seiya for a 45 yard gain. But the Sada defense rose up finally sacking Tivim on a fourth down. Sada Cruzeiro then played outstanding ball control for the final three minutes of the game, giving them the win and a berth in the semifinals where they will meet two-time national champions (2013, 2014) the Coritiba Crocodiles. The Crocodiles downed the Santa Maria Soldiers.