The 2019 LFA season was the fourth season of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional, the top American football league in Mexico. The regular season began on February 22 and concluded on April 14. The playoffs commenced on April 26 and concluded on May 12 with the Condors defeating the Raptors to win the Tazón México IV.

2019 LFA season
Duration22 February 2019 – 14 April 2019
North Champions championsRaptors
Central Champions championsCondors
Tazón México IV
Date12 May 2019
VenueEstadio Azul, Mexico City
ChampionsCondors
Seasons
← 2018
2020 →

Preseason events

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Expansion and stadium changes

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Two new teams joined the league for the 2019 season: Artilleros Puebla, based in Puebla, and Osos Toluca, based in Toluca, State of Mexico. This expansion raises the number of teams in the league to eight.[1]

During the first LFA season, the Estadio Jesús Martínez "Palillo" hosted all the league's teams. Nevertheless, 2019 will be the first season in which none of the teams would play there, due to the fact that the stadium is now working as shelter for Central American migrants.[1][2]

  • Condors was supposed to be the only team playing at the Estadio Jesús Martínez "Palillo", but moved to the ITESM Santa Fe stadium in the district of Santa Fe after Mexico City's government designed the "Palillo" Martínez stadium as a temporary shelter for Central American migrants.[3]
  • Mexicas also moved from the Estadio Jesús Martínez "Palillo" to the Casco de Santo Tomás, the training ground of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional football teams.[5]

Draft

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The 2019 Draft was regional, that is, each team chose players graduated from universities in their region. In the case of Artilleros Puebla and Osos Toluca , being unique teams in their region, they had no competition in their player selections. The Draft was held on January 12 at the FES Acatlán facilities . There were nine rounds, 6 normal and 3 complementary. The selections were as follows:

Draft 2019
Rd Sel. LFA Team Player Pos. University Conf.
1 1 Fundidores Maximiliano Soto DL Borregos Salvajes ITESM Liga Premier CONADEIP
2 Condors * Aldo Alejandro Narváez WR Águilas Blancas IPN Liga Mayor ONEFA
3 Dinos Víctor Alejandro Sánchez LB Auténticos Tigres UANL Liga Mayor ONEFA
4 Mayas Jesús Augusto Sosa RB Burros Blancos IPN Liga Mayor ONEFA
5 Raptors José David Casarrubias DL Leones UA Norte Liga Mayor ONEFA
6 Mexicas José Ulises Espinosa DL Águilas Blancas IPN Liga Mayor ONEFA
7 Artilleros Carlos Sebastián Olvera WR Aztecas UDLAP Liga Premier CONADEIP
8 Osos Enrique Gerardo Yenny K Borregos ITESM Toluca Liga Premier CONADEIP
2 9 Fundidores Uriel Martínez DL Auténticos Tigres UANL Liga Mayor ONEFA
10 Condors César Torres DB Leones UA Norte Liga Mayor ONEFA
11 Dinos Jesús Gerardo Rendón WR Lobos UAdeC Liga Mayor ONEFA
12 Mayas Luis Fernando Zárate LB Burros Blancos IPN Liga Mayor ONEFA
13 Raptors Topilitzin Silva LB Leones UA Norte Liga Mayor ONEFA
14 Mexicas Emmanuel Carpio DL Toros Salvajes UACH Liga Mayor ONEFA
15 Artilleros Juan Manuel Márquez DB Aztecas UDLAP Liga Premier CONADEIP
16 Osos Ulises Alberto Garduño LB Potros Salvajes UAEM Liga Mayor ONEFA
3 17 Fundidores Jesús David Alanís DL Lobos UAdeC Liga Mayor ONEFA
18 Condors Irwin Heriberto Zuviri DL Águilas Blancas IPN Liga Mayor ONEFA
19 Dinos Erick Cázares DB Auténticos Tigres UANL Liga Mayor ONEFA
20 Mayas Jair Alonso Juárez DL Leones UA Norte Liga Mayor ONEFA
21 Raptors Alejandro Arce QB Leones UA Norte Liga Mayor ONEFA
22 Mexicas Oscar Lenard Vara LB Centinelas CGP Liga Mayor ONEFA
23 Artilleros Alan Eduardo Méndez LB Aztecas UDLAP Liga Premier CONADEIP
24 Osos Daniel Becerril WR Potros Salvajes UAEM Liga Mayor ONEFA
4 25 Fundidores Rubén Martínez RB Auténticos Tigres UANL Liga Mayor ONEFA
26 Condors Rafael Adrián Gómez WR Burros Blancos IPN Liga Mayor ONEFA
27 Dinos Yael de Jesús Romero WR Lobos UAdeC Liga Mayor ONEFA
28 Mayas Marco Antonio Morales WR Burros Blancos IPN Liga Mayor ONEFA
29 Raptors Oscar Daniel Larios RB Leones UA Norte Liga Mayor ONEFA
30 Mexicas Edgar Ángeles Castañeda LB Frailes UT Liga Mayor ONEFA
31 Artilleros Juan Manuel Gray OL Aztecas UDLAP Liga Premier CONADEIP
32 Osos Jesús Eduardo Estrada DL Potros Salvajes UAEM Liga Mayor ONEFA
5 33 Fundidores Carlos Alberto Díaz DB Auténticos Tigres UANL Liga Mayor ONEFA
34 Condors Rodrigo Omar Garfias DB Centinelas CGP Liga Mayor ONEFA
35 Dinos Luis Eduardo Mireles TE Correcaminos UAT Liga Mayor ONEFA
36 Mayas Juan Salvador Vázquez DB Toros Salvajes UACH Liga Mayor ONEFA
37 Raptors Andrés Aguilar RB Pumas UNAM Acatlán Liga Mayor ONEFA
38 Mexicas Sergio Enrique Martínez QB Pumas UNAM Acatlán Liga Mayor ONEFA
39 Artilleros Anwar de Jesús Ramírez RB Borregos ITESM Puebla Liga Premier CONADEIP
40 Osos Elías González OL Potros Salvajes UAEM Liga Mayor ONEFA
6 41 Fundidores Alejandro Emmanuel Palomo DL Corecaminos UAT Norte Liga Mayor ONEFA
42 Condors Omar Torres Valle WR Centinelas CGP Liga Mayor ONEFA
43 Dinos Adrián Azahel García DL Correcaminos UAT Liga Mayor ONEFA
44 Mayas Enrique Hernán Benavides QB Pumas UNAM Acatlán Liga Mayor ONEFA
45 Raptors Ian Uriel Mompala DB Centinelas CGP Liga Mayor ONEFA
46 Mexicas Manuel Ignacio Martínez WR Águilas Blancas IPN Liga Mayor ONEFA
47 Artilleros Manuel Eduardo Hernández DB Aztecas UDLAP Liga Premier CONADEIP
48 Osos Rodrigo García OL Potros Salvajes UAEM Liga Mayor ONEFA
7 49 Fundidores Osvaldo Sánchez DL Corecaminos UAT Norte Liga Mayor ONEFA
50 Condors Diego Carsolio K Leones UA Norte Liga Mayor ONEFA
51 Dinos Hermillo Jesús Corral DL Corecaminos UAT Norte Liga Mayor ONEFA
52 Mayas Carlos Missael Mansilla OL Toros Salvajes UACH Liga Mayor ONEFA
53 Raptors Víctor Francisco Fosado WR Pumas UNAM Acatlán Liga Mayor ONEFA
54 Mexicas Ángel Alexis González DL Frailes UT Liga Mayor ONEFA
55 Artilleros Andrés Fernández OL Lobos BUAP Liga Mayor ONEFA
56 Osos Mario Alberto González WR Potros Salvajes UAEM Liga Mayor ONEFA
8 57 Fundidores Roberto Alejandro Avilán RB Corecaminos UAT Norte Liga Mayor ONEFA
58 Condors Pedro Arturo Martell OL Frailes UT Liga Mayor ONEFA
59 Mayas Luis David Martínez WR Burros Blancos IPN Liga Mayor ONEFA
60 Raptors Samuel Hazel González RB Centinelas CGP Liga Mayor ONEFA
61 Mexicas Jesús Flores WR Pumas UNAM Acatlán Liga Mayor ONEFA
62 Artilleros Guillermo Calderón DL Aztecas UDLAP Liga Premier CONADEIP
9 63 Mayas Jesús Ramsés Guerrero OL Leones UA Norte Liga Mayor ONEFA
64 Artilleros Gabriel Amavizca K Lobos BUAP Liga Mayor ONEFA
65 Artilleros Mauricio Francisco Valverde RB Borregos ITESM Puebla Liga Premier CONADEIP
66 Artilleros José Irvin Nuñez OL Lobos BUAP Liga Mayor ONEFA
  Complementary selections, teams are not required to make a selection

* Not signed with Condors but with Mexicas.

CFL–LFA draft

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In November 2018, the LFA signed a non-binding Letter of Intent with the CFL to share resources and to allow for at least one CFL game to be played in Mexico, as well as lay the ground work for special Mexican-specific editions of the CFL Combine and CFL Draft.[6]

On January 11, 2019, 51 players from the LFA and Mexican college ranks were announced as participants in a combine to beheld on January 13 and a 27-player draft to be held on January 14, 2019. Each CFL team sent scouts and were reported to likely receive four picks.[7]

27 players were chosen from an invited pool of 51 Mexican players: 34 from the LFA and 17 seniors from Mexican university teams.[8]

Teams

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Team City Stadium Capacity Head coach
North Division
Dinos Saltillo, Coahuila Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero 8,000   Javier Adame
Fundidores Monterrey, Nuevo León Estadio Nuevo León Unido 1,500   Israel González
Osos Toluca, State of Mexico Universidad Siglo XXI 4,000   Horacio García Aponte
Raptors Naucalpan, State of Mexico FES Acatlán 3,000   Guillermo Gutiérrez
Central Division
Artilleros Puebla City, Puebla Estadio Templo del Dolor 4,500   Gustavo Torres
Condors Mexico City ITESM Santa Fe 2,000   Félix Buendía
Mayas Mexico City Estadio Wilfrido Massieu 13,000   Francisco Chaparro
Mexicas Mexico City Casco de Santo Tomás 2,000   Enrique Zárate

Regular season

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Standings

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Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, PF = Points for, PA = Points against

Results

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Week 1
Away Score Home Venue Date Kickoff (UTC-6) Streaming
Dinos 13–26 Fundidores Estadio Nuevo León Unido February 22 21:00      
Osos 12–48 Raptors FES Acatlán February 23 16:00      
Condors 21–13 Mayas Estadio Azul February 24 12:00
Artilleros 29–12 Mexicas Estadio Azul February 24 16:00      
Week 2
Away Score Home Venue Date Kickoff (UTC-6) Streaming
Fundidores 29–30 Osos Universidad Siglo XXI March 2 13:00      
Raptors 21–7 Dinos Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero March 2 18:00    
Mexicas 3–13 Mayas Estadio Wilfrido Massieu March 3 12:00
Condors 22–15 Artilleros Estadio Templo del Dolor March 3 15:00      
Week 3
Away Score Home Venue Date Kickoff (UTC-6) Streaming
Raptors 21–31 Fundidores Estadio Nuevo León Unido March 8 21:00    
Dinos 22–10 Osos Universidad Siglo XXI March 10 12:00
Mexicas 22–18 Condors ITESM Santa Fe March 10 15:00      
Artilleros 7–14 Mayas Estadio Wilfrido Massieu March 10 15:00      
Week 4
Away Score Home Venue Date Kickoff (UTC-6) Streaming
Osos 6–17 Artilleros Estadio Templo del Dolor March 16 15:00      
Dinos 13–16 Mayas Estadio Wilfrido Massieu March 17 12:00      
Fundidores 13–15 Condors Campo ITESM Santa Fe March 17 12:00
Raptors 23–29 Mexicas Casco de Santo Tomás March 17 15:00      
Week 5
Away Score Home Venue Date Kickoff (UTC-6) Streaming
Fundidores 0–8 Dinos Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero March 23 18:00      
Mayas 13–20 Raptors FES Acatlán March 24 12:00
Mexicas 20–21 Artilleros Estadio Templo del Dolor March 24 12:00      
Condors 54–30 Osos Campo Universidad Siglo XXI March 24 15:00      
Week 6
Away Score Home Venue Date Kickoff (UTC-6) Streaming
Artilleros 7–6 Fundidores Estadio Nuevo León Unido March 29 21:00      
Raptors 28–6 Osos Universidad Siglo XXI March 30 13:00      
Mexicas 20–28 Dinos Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero March 30 18:00      
Mayas 14–33 Condors ITESM Santa Fe March 31 12:00
Week 7
Away Score Home Venue Date Kickoff (UTC-5) Streaming
Osos 13–12 Dinos Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero April 6 18:00      
Mayas 22–12 Mexicas Casco de Santo Tomás April 7 12:00
Fundidores 13–30 Raptors FES Acatlán April 7 12:00      
Artilleros 29–26 Condors Campo ITESM Santa Fe April 7 15:00      
Week 8
Away Score Home Venue Date Kickoff (UTC-5) Streaming
Osos 9–16 Fundidores Estadio Nuevo León Unido April 12 21:00      
Dinos 7–19 Raptors FES Acatlán April 13 16:00      
Condors 16–14 Mexicas Casco de Santo Tomás April 14 12:00
Mayas 25–20 Artilleros Estadio Templo del Dolor April 14 15:00      

Statistical leaders

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Category Player Position Team Statistic
Passing
Yards Bruno Márquez QB Raptors de Naucalpan 2,344
Touchdowns Bruno Márquez QB Raptors de Naucalpan 18
Interceptions Ricardo Quintana
Diego Pérez Arvizu
Alvaro Camacho
QB
QB
QB
Mexicas de la Ciudad de México
Condors CDMX
Mayas CDMX
8
Completions Bruno Márquez QB Raptors de Naucalpan 192
Attempts Bruno Márquez QB Raptors de Naucalpan 313
Completion percentage José Manuel Fernández Chávez QB Osos de Toluca 100.00%[a]
Rushing
Yards Luis Humberto Lopez Tinoco RB Condors CDMX 504
Touchdowns Dan Ávilla RB / WR Raptors de Naucalpan 5
Attempts Dan Ávila RB / WR Raptors de Naucalpan 97
Yards per attempt Fernando Richarte WR Dinos de Saltillo 21.0[b]
Receiving
Yards Guillermo Villalobos WR Mexicas de la Ciudad de México 921
Touchdowns Sebastián Olvera WR Artilleros de Puebla 8
Receptions Guillermo Villalobos WR Mexicas de la Ciudad de México 58
Targets Guillermo Villalobos WR Mexicas de la Ciudad de México 88
Yards per reception Marcelo Zumalacárregui Taboada WR Artilleros de Puebla 32.0[c]
Defensive
Sacks José David Casarrubias Santiago DL Raptors de Naucalpan 10
Assisted sacks Felix Roberto Guerrero Sanchez DL Raptors de Naucalpan 3
Tackles Miguel Angelo Canseco Larios LB Mexicas de la Ciudad de México 42
Assisted tackles Miguel Angelo Canseco Larios LB Mexicas de la Ciudad de México 17
Interceptions Fernando Ramírez Paredes DB Raptors de Naucalpan 5
Pick sixes Carlos Fernando Espinoza Carvajal
Julián Darrell Crandall
DB
DB / WR
Condors CDMX
Osos de Toluca
2
Pass deflections Sergio Schiaffino DB Dinos de Saltillo 14
Forced fumbles Juan Francisco González Delgado
Miguel Angelo Canseco Larios
DL
LB
Mayas CDMX
Mexicas de la Ciudad de México
3
Touchdowns Carlos Fernando Espinoza Carvajal
Julián Darrell Crandall
DB
DB / WR
Condors CDMX
Osos de Toluca
2
Kicking
PATs made Diego Carsolio Urban K Raptors de Naucalpan 24
PAT attempts Diego Carsolio Urban K Raptors de Naucalpan 24
Field goals made Diego Carsolio Urban
Alan Alessandro Paoli García
K
K
Raptors de Naucalpan
Condors CDMX
16
Field goal attempts Diego Carsolio Urban
Alan Alessandro Paoli García
K
K
Raptors de Naucalpan
Condors CDMX
16
Points Diego Carsolio Urban K Raptors de Naucalpan 72
Returning
Total returns Sergio Enrique Barbosa Garcia WR Dinos de Saltillo 22
Total return yards Sergio Enrique Barbosa Garcia WR Dinos de Saltillo 453
Yards per return Jesús David Rosales Robles HB Raptors de Naucalpan 39.0[d]
Punt returns Sergio Enrique Barbosa Garcia WR Dinos de Saltillo 13
Punt return yards Sergio Enrique Barbosa Garcia WR Dinos de Saltillo 191
Kickoff returns Kamaal McIlwain CB Mexicas de la Ciudad de México 14
Kickoff return yards Allan Fernando Rosado Alvares RB Condors CDMX 281
Total return touchdowns Sergio Enrique Barbosa Garcia
Edgar Josué Arroyo Flores
Jesús David Rosales Robles
WR
RB
HB
Dinos de Saltillo
Mayas CDMX
Raptors de Naucalpan
1
Source: LFA[9]

Playoffs

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Playoff bracket

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Division Finals Tazón Mexico IV
      
C2 Mayas 13
C1 Condors 18
C1 Condors 20
N1 Raptors 16
N2 Fundidores 47
N1 Raptors 53*
* Indicates overtime victory

Tazón México IV

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Tazón México IV
 
Raptors vs Condors
(6-2) (6-2)
16 20
Head Coach: Head Coach:
Guillermo Gutierrez Felix Buendia
Teams 1C 2C 3C 4C
  Raptors 0 9 0 7
  Condors 6 0 7 7
Date: 12, May 2019
Kickoff time: 3 p.m.
Stadium: Estadio Azul
Weather: Sunny, 28°
Attendance: 18,000
MVP: Diego Arvizu, QB
Referee: Mario Matos
TV:                
Half time show: Álex Lora
← III • Tazón México • V →

The Tazón México IV was held on May 12, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. at the Estadio Azul in Mexico City, with a record attendance for the LFA of 18,000 fans present. The commissioner of the CFL, Randy Ambrossie, was the great guest of the event and together with Alejandro Jaimes, commissioner of the LFA, and Gabriel Soto, they started the fourth edition of the Tazón México. Álex Lora performed the national anthem. The Condors became LFA champions, after beating the Raptors by a score of 20-16 in a somersault game and it was the most cardiac edition in the history of Tazón México, decided in the last 30 seconds of the game. The MVP of the match was Diego Arvizu "El Comandante" (QB) Condors.

Quarter Time Series Team Annotations Score
Plays Yds TOP RAP CON
1 9:37 2 75 0:54 CON Touchdown, 60-yard run by RB Luis H. López Tinoco; the extra point is no good (K Alan Paoli) 0 6
2 7:40 12 75 5:46 RAP Touchdown, 7-yard pass from QB Bruno Márquez to WR Antonio Tenorio; the extra point is no good (K Diego Carsolio) 6 6
2 5:08 6 17 2:10 RAP Field goal, 19 yards from K Diego Carsolio 9 6
3 3:20 CON Touchdown, 5-yard run of QB Diego Pérez Arvizu; the extra point is good (K Alan Paoli) 9 13
4 7:55 RAP Touchdown, 43-yard pass from QB Bruno Márquez to WR Diego Yañes; the extra point is good (K Diego Carsolio) 16 13
4 4:25 CON Touchdown, 55-yard pass from QB Diego Pérez Arvizu to WR Andrés Salgado; the extra point is good (K Alan Paoli) 16 20

Awards

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Following the season, awards are shown the best of the 2019 season.

Award Winner (Position) Team
MVP of the season Bruno Márquez QB Raptors
Coach of the year Félix Buendía HC Condors
Rookie of the Year Sebastián Olvera WR Artilleros
Offensive player of the year Bruno Márquez QB Raptors
Defensive player of the year David Casarrubias DL Raptors
Best Offensive Lineman Diego Kuhlmann OL Osos
Best defensive lineman Francisco Krauss DL Fundidores
Best deep threat Jordi Saldaña WR Mayas
Best linebacker Miguel Canseco LB Mexicas
Best runner Luis Lopez Tinoco RB Condors
Best receiver Guillermo Villalobos WR Mexicas

References

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  1. ^ a b c "El futbol americano en México se alista con la LFA". Milenio (in Spanish). 21 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  2. ^ "Estadio "Palillo" Martínez, el adiós al inmueble que vio nacer a la LFA" (in Spanish). Máximo Avance. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Debido a migrantes, el equipo Condors cambiará de sede a Santa Fe" (in Spanish). 20 Minutos. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Viene la nueva era en el Imperio Azul". LFA.mx (in Spanish). 4 January 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Alianza Mexicas LFA-IPN". LFA.mx (in Spanish). 16 October 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  6. ^ "CFL, LFA sign letter of intent to grow football in Canada and Mexico". Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  7. ^ Dan Barnes (January 11, 2019). "'FUN ELEMENT': CFL set for inaugural draft of Mexican talent".
  8. ^ "CFL combine, draft in Mexico 'important first step' to expand brand | Toronto Sun". 11 January 2019.
  9. ^ "ESTADÍSTICAS - LFA". Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional. 2 March 2019. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.

Notes

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  1. ^ Fernández completed 1−1 pass for 100.00% pass completion; taking into account quarterbacks with a minimum of 80 pass attempts during the season (10 per game), Bruno Márquez of the Raptors de Naucalpan led with a pass completion percentage of 61.34%.
  2. ^ Richarte averaged 21.0 rushing yards on 1 rush attempt; taking into account players with a minimum of 8 rush attempts during the season (1 per game), Joel Ramon Rodriguez Fernandez of the Fundidores de Monterrey led with an average 9.5 rushing yards on 13 rush attempts.
  3. ^ Zumalacárregui averaged 32.0 receiving yards on 2 receptions; taking into account players with a minimum of 8 receptions during the season (1 per game), Rafael Adrian Gomez Galvan of the Condors CDMX led with an average of 25.7 receiving yards on 13 receptions.
  4. ^ Rosales averaged 39.0 returning yards on 1 return; taking into account players with a minimum of 8 returns during the season (1 per game), Joan Alejandro Medina Tabitas of the Dinos de Saltillo led with an average of 22.7 returning yards on 15 returns.