Spanish League heads into playoffs
The 14 team Spanish Federation of American Football league wrapped up its regular season last weekend and the final playoff rankings were decided.
Twelve teams qualified for the playoffs with the wild card round set for April 28. Two teams were eliminated as the L’Hospitalet Pioners and Santiago Black Ravens both finished the season without a win.
Four teams earned a bye into the quarterfinals. The Murcia Cobras (#1), Badalona Dracs (#2), Osos Rivas (#3) and Las Rozas Black Demons (#4) will wait to face the winners of the wild card playoff round.
Wild Card Weekend, April 28-29 will feature four games. The #5 seed, Coslada Camioneros (6-2) will take on the #12 Alicante Sharks (1-7). Coslada has beaten the Sharks both times they met this year by lopsided scores, 42-0 and 35-0. There is no reason to expect anything different from this game.
The 3-3 Valencia Firebats, #6 seed, will play the #11 seed Granada Lions (1-7). Valencia played in the tough Group A while the Lions could only muster 42 points on offense in eight games in Group B.
The Gijon Mariners, #7 seed (4-4) will face the #10 seed Santurtzi Coyotes (2-6). The Mariners swept both games these two teams played this season, but the second game was only a one touchdown win (27-20).
Finally, in the fourth wildcard matchup, the #8 seed Valencia Giants (4-4) will host the #9 Mallorca Voltors (3-3), perhaps the most improved team in the Spanish league this year. The Voltors also played in the tough Group A and this game could go either way.
Three of the four higher seeded teams will have home field advantage while the Firebats will actually play their game in Granada due to field issues in Valencia.
The quarterfinals are scheduled for the weekend of May 5 and 6 and the semifinals,on May 19 and 20.
