L'Hospitalet Pioners vs Badalona Dracs: The Classic - Jesús Sánchez Sanvicente (20 Feb)
Badalona Dracs (4-0) and L'Hospitalet Pioners (1-3) faced each other last Saturday in the “classic” of the Spanish American Football League. With two very different trajectories this season, both teams met in their 50th match at the Complex Esportiu Hospitalet Nord (L’Hospitalet) in a match that could be considered the catalan derby.
THE RUNDOWN
The locals took the lead with a passing touchdown by Daniel Belso thanks to their recent import, the Mexican quarterback Alex García, making it clear that the team from L'Hospitalet came with the intention of making things difficult for the Conference leader.
Dracs reacted immediately with a spectacular 60-yard play by versatile player Alpha Jalloh. The second quarter opened with a new score from Pioners, this time by Mexican wide receiver Luis Enrique García, after a pass from his brother Alex. The recent additions proved to be a success. But this time it was American running back Ra'von Bonner who, after a 31-yard run, tied the score. Before halftime, Alpha Jalloh intercepted Alex García scoring the Touchdown that would make it 14-21 at halftime.
After halftime, Dracs expanded the score with a pass from veteran national quarterback Sergi Gonzalo to David Martínez. But Pioners did not bend the knee, and again Luis Enrique García scored after a new pass from his brother Alex to put 21-28 in the score.
Alpha Jalloh would get his third score of the game with an 80-yard run. Dracs only needed the flashes of his import stars to dominate the scoreboard. Despite the clock, Pioneers did not give up their efforts and ended up scoring with Alex García's fourth TD pass, this time to Pablo Elena, which left the score at 28-34.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
In the other conference match, Zaragoza Hurricanes comfortably beat Mallorca Voltors by 35-19, which after the defeat of Pioners places Hurricanes in a comfortable second place in the Eastern conference at the end of the first round.
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