Spain’s Valencia Firebats, Badalona Dracs Return to the LNFA Final
The defending champion Badalona Dracs will face the Valencia Firebats in the Spanish championship game for the second straight year. The Dracs won the 2014 final 24-18 after scoring on a fake field goal on the last play of the game. The Liga Nacional Futbol Americano (LNFA) final will be played on June 20th.
Badalona Dracs 42 – Osos Rivas 6
In the first semifinal, the Dracs had no trouble in disposing of Osos Rivas from Madrid 42-6 as running back Curtis Cannon was unstoppable. Rotating in a quarterback at times, Cannon had a field day against a demoralized Osos Rivas defense as the Dracs ran up a 35-0 halftime score before easing off in the second half.
Defensive backs Oscar Perez and Kevin Duley both scored touchdowns in the first half off of interceptions adding to Cannon’s totals.
Curtis Cannon was a nightmare for the Osos Rivas defense
Valencia Firebats 21 – Valencia Giants 6
The other semifinal was far closer as the Valencia Firebats punched a return ticket to the final by beating crosstown rivals the Valencia Giants 21-6. Firebats running back Hector Pertegaz scored all three touchdowns as was named game MVP for his outstanding performance.
The Giants, the only team to have beaten the Firebats in the regular season, took an early 6-0 lead on a touchdown pass from quarterback Ricardo Quintana to Clement Auffan. But from then on it was the Pertegaz show as he returned the ensuing kickoff to the Giants 24 yard line and then romped in on the next play to give the Firebats a 7-0 lead which they never relinquished.
Hector Pertegaz was on fire against the Valencia Giants
When Pertegaz wasn’t scoring, the Firebats defense stepped up halting the Giants in the red zone late in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
The Firebats will be looking for their first title since 2009. Meanwhile, this will be Badalona’s 12th trip to the championship game. They have won it a record six times.
