Spain: Barbera Rookies roll to stunning win in debut game
The Barbera Rookies (1-0) celebrated their first game back in the top Spanish division with a resounding 47-0 victory over 2021 semifinalists, the Mallorca Voltors (0-2).
Led by Mexican quarterback Luis Enrique García Rosado who threw three touchdown passes and running back Charlemagne Take Hamza who scored two on the ground, the Rookies took a 26-0 first quarter lead and never looked back.
Take Hamza opened the scoring with his first rushing touchdown bursting around the end and racing 36 yards for the score. Punt returner Miles Corpening added to the lead returning a Voltors punt 65 yards for a touchdown. García Rosado found a streaking Victor Vega for a 40 yard score to up the lead to 19-0. Then the Mexican quarterback connected with Vega again, this time from 10 yards out to make the score going into the second period, 26-0. About the only thing not working for Barbera was the extra point kicking.
The second quarter saw the Voltors defense stiffen while the offense drove deep into Barbera territory, reaching the three-yard line. but the Rookies defense responded though forcing a turnover on downs.
Barbera continued resumed their early dominance after the break as Take Hamza powered the ball in from two yards out to boost the lead to 33-0. On the very next Mallorca possession, Rookies defensive back Joan Carles Bartra picked off Voltors quarterback Diego Lliteras and returned the ball 55 yards all the way to the end zone to stretch the lead to 40-0. The Rookies wound up the scoring midway through the fourth stanza as Garcia Rosado hit wide receiver Brayan Larese for a 22-yard touchdown.
In other action, the L’Hospitalet Pioners earned their first win of the season in beating the Zaragoza Hurricanes 56-48 in a shootout. Osos Rivas eked out a 16-13 win over the Las Rozas Black Demons while the Murcia Cobras had an easy time of it in beating the Fuengirola Potros 47-14.
The Spanish National American Football League returns to action on February 6 with four games on tap.
