Saturday April 6 at 15:30 (CET) the Osos de Rivas (6-1) will host the Camioneros de Coslada (4-3) at the Cerro del Telégrafo Sports Complex (Rivas, Madrid).
To open up the last regular season week of the LNFA Serie A, we have a matchup between two teams with decades of history in Spain. Because the Osos are already set as the #1 Seed in the West Conference, and the Camioneros mathematically can't get in the playoffs, this will be a game without playoff implications. That doesn't mean these two teams will take it easy. Rivas is preparing for the semifinals against a fierceful L'Hospitalet Pioners and Coslada wants to top off one of the best seasons they have had in years, cementing themselves as a top 5-6 team in the nation.
These two squads from Madrid have faced off a total of 5 times in their history, with a record of 4-1 favorable for the Osos de Rivas. Last time they played, the game ended with a loud 0-48 shutout in favor of the Osos at Coslada´s Camioneros Park.
Osos getting ready for the playoffs
Even if they have already secured the #1 spot, the Osos de Rivas won't take the day off and will try to dominate until the last minute. They are coming off their biggest win of the season against the powerhouse Black Demons with a score of 28-21. Even more impressive is that they got the win without their American star and passing Touchdown leader Quarterback Russell Tabor due to injury (19 passing and 4 rushing Touchdowns in 6 games). Instead, the next man up was the youngster national quarterback Adrián Meléndez who balled out with 2 total Touchdowns and a stellar 4th quarter performance, being clutch in the most important moments of the game. He is an up and coming quarterback with international experience, being a champion of Egypt with the Cairo Hellhounds in 2023. Also there came a great performance from their American Running Back Ronald Tomasello, and Wide Receivers David Girón and the import Gary Tyler, each of them with a score.
On offense, Rivas probably will rest Tabor prior to the semifinal in order for him to heal, so the names to keep an eye on will be the already mentioned rising star Quarterback Adrán Meléndez, Running Back Ronald Tomasello and their great receiving core with names such as Gary Tayler, Edu Pérez, David Girón, Iván Iordanov, and Pablo Olivares amongst them.
On the other side of the ball, their biggest contributors will be their American Linebacker and leader of the defense Davante Gabriel, a secondary composed of great talent with players like Andy Vera, Carlos Rodríguez or Daniel Franco, and the well rounded and two way Lineman José Antonio Escobar “Chiapas”.
Camioneros wants to finish strong
On the other side is the Camioneros de Coslada, led by their well-oiled offense, who will fight until the very end to consolidate a great season where they have only lost against the two big teams in the West, Osos and Black Demons, finishing the season with an assured record of at least .500.
Their biggest strength is the offensive side of the ball with a polished passing game featured by players like their young domestic Quarterback Iván López “Terry”, and a dangerous set of Wide Receivers with names such as Ethan L. Fischer (#2 in receiving TDs in the league with 7), Mason T. Wilfong and Iván García Sala.
On defense, players such as domestic defensive backs Juan Antonio Gómez, Pablo Saló, and British Defensive Lineman Michael Kenshiro (Hamburg Sea Devils signee for next season) amongst others, will be key for a good performance from the blue squad.
Game´s outcome
The Osos de Rivas are highly favored, but who knows, in a meaningless game like this, they will probably rest some of the starters before their semifinal against Pioners. The Camioneros de Coslada are known to be a hard-nosed fighting team, so maybe we will have an upset in the last week of the regular season.
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