Sunday, January 19, 2025
Another crisp morning greeted me as I boarded the #1 line bus for the ride out to our Universidad Laboral practice facility/rugby field that today hosted the opening games of the 2025 season for our Mariners Junior and Senior Flag Football squads.
At 11:00 a.m.
Gijón Mariners Juniors
vs.
Oviedo Phoenix Rookies
At 12:30 p.m.
Mariners Seniors
vs.
Oviedo Phoenix Seniors
I got to the Intra bus stop closest to our field a little earlier than planned so, of course, I took the opportunity to do a little exploration of the university campus' Computer Science area.
Lots of frost on the grass
when I got off the bus
The rising Sun would soon rid
us of this crunchy, frosty grass
A covered set of benches for social
gatherings in the Spring
Is that an Olympic Bar set at 135 lbs.?
The Universidad Laboral apparently
has Catholic roots
A big wheel, purpose unknown
Looks like the Commies have roots
in the Universidad Laboral too
Check out this website for
Universidad Laboral updates
both far right and far left
I liked the Oviedo Phoenix logo
Two Mariners Junior stalwarts
Center Alvaro and DB Guillermo
The Oviedo Rookies players
were MEN . . .
. . . our Juniors, not so much
Thank goodness that we were playing Flag Football and not Tackle Football!
I was told that the Oviedo Rookies were all just that, first year Flag Football players who in many cases got hooked into playing by watching their children play on other Oviedo flag teams.
Eventually, their inexperience became clear.
Felipe, the Mariners wonderful photographer
He has been taking photos at Mariners games for about 13 years I was told.
The photos that he posted from our game last weekend were EXCELLENT!
All of the photos on this post were taken my me, Felipe should have his photos up on Monday or Tuesday.
Captains Out
The rules for today's games are the same ones that will be used when Flag Football is introduced as an Olympic Sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The teams play five players at a time.
All offensive players are eligible to receive passes. When carrying the ball, an Offensive player may not guard his flags, i.e., knock a Defender's hand away.
The QB cannot run with the ball unless he passes it or laterals it to another player who then gives it back to him.
One Defensive player may Blitz the QB but he must be at least seven yards behind the line of scrimmage at the snap. The designated Blitzer must raise his hand and keep it raised well before the snap. The Blitzer cannot be impeded by a block of any kind. In fact, there is no blocking of any kind ever allowed.
The field is 30 yards wide, 50 yards long and has two additional ten yard End Zones.
There is no kicking or punting of any kind in the game.
ALL drives start at the Offense's five yard line including after any drive no matter where on the field if the offense does not convert on Fourth Down. If the Defense intercepts a pass, their Offense takes over at the spot that the intercepter's flag is pulled.
All fumbles or bad snaps are dead where they hit the turf.
The Offense can get a First Down when they cross the mid-field stripe, the 25 yard line.
The game is played in two, twenty minute halves. The first 18 minutes are with a running clock, the last two minutes of each half are played with normal stops for incomplete passes, going out of bounds, etc.
The "Famous Samu" of the Mariners
declaring his intent to Blitz
1-on-1 with a BIG Phoenix player
Swarming the ball carrier works
in flag football too
Good Blitz pressure but a tad
loose on the coverage
The Mariners Juniors did a nice job
of mixing up their short, intermediate
and deep passes
Nice Catch!
Official logo of FEFA, the
Federación Española de Fútbol Americano
At Halftime, the Mariners led 12-0, I don't believe that Oviedo mustered a First Down. As I said earlier, the Phoenix are big but inexperienced men.
Another completion but both teams
had trouble moving the ball in the
Second Half
Four man Bunch formation for Gijón
Daniel Castañon, the Mariners flag football coach, has a deep and well thought out playbook.
BOMBS AWAY!
Working the sideline
Going DEEP again
The Mariners only had two possessions in the Second Half as opposed to Oviedo's six.
The reason for this unbalanced set of possessions is simple.
The Mariners had four consecutive Pick-Sixes to end Phoenix drives in the final stanza.
The Juniors huddling up after the win
FINAL SCORE
Gijón Mariners Juniors (1-0) - 38
Oviedo Phoenix Rookies (0-1) - 0
Next up was the Senior game
While the Junior team was composed of all young men, the Senior squad was coed.
Once again, the Mariners were
a well oiled machine today
The Mariners QB has a good arm
and is quite tall
It was competitive
At Halftime, the Mariners had gradually built up a 19-6 advantage.
Lots of good receivers on the Mariners
Some strong defenders as well
The Blitz didn't quite get to the QB
on this play, hands up is good though
The Seniors post-game chat
The Seniors brought home a Victory
FINAL SCORE
Gijón Mariners Seniors (1-0) - 31
Oviedo Phoenix Seniors (0-1) - 6
On to Sunday's three LNFA Serie A games . . .
In a Western Conference game,
the Las Rozas Black Demons (2-0)
were simply too much for the
Zaragoza Hurricanes (0-1)
A big upset in the Eastern Conference,
as the Mallorca Voltors (1-0) edged the
powerhouse Badalona Dracs (1-1)
Also in the Eastern Conference,
the Terrassa Reds (2-0) nipped
the L'Hospitalet Pioners (0-2)
Serie A Week 2 Results
Western Conference
Rivas (1-1) 35 - Coslada (1-1) 10
Las Rozas (2-0) 49 - Zaragoza (0-1) 6
Bye: Gijón (0-1)
Serie A Week 2 Results
Eastern Conference
Mallorca (1-0) 24 - Badalona (1-1) 22
Terrassa (2-0) 19 - L'Hospitalet (0-2) 16
Bye: Barcelona (0-1)
Serie A Standings
Western Conference
1. Las Rozas Black Demons 2-0
2T. Coslada Camioneros 1-1
Osos Rivas 1-1
4T. Gijón Mariners 0-1
Zaragoza Hurricanes 0-1
Serie A Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Terrassa Reds 2-0
2. Mallorca Voltors 1-0
3. Badalona Dracs 1-1
4. Barcelona Pagesos 0-1
5. L'Hospitalet Pioners 0-2
Serie A Standings
Western Conference Week 3 Games
Gijón (0-1) at Las Rozas (2-0)
Zaragoza (0-1) at Rivas (1-1)
Bye: Coslada (1-1)
Serie A Standings
Eastern Conference Week 3 Games
Mallorca (1-0) at L'Hospitalet (0-2)
Badalona (1-1) at Barcelona (0-1)
Bye: Terrassa (2-0)
Rams at Eagles today in an
NFL Divisional Playoff contest
This game late Spain time, I'll find out about the winner Monday morning when I wake up.
Go Rams GO!
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