Sunday, March 30, 2025
We live in truly strange times.
One week ago today, after our seemingly soul crushing, 43-6, defeat in Zaragoza to the Hurricanes, left us all in a funk.
Now, it must be understood that in the wonderful world of all European sports, the psyche dictates that your team simply must be in the country's top division in that sport. Dropping down to a lower division just cannot be tolerated.
That loss meant that we were now the team with the worst record of the ten teams in Serie A and now faced the specter of relegation to Serie B in 2026.
Or so we thought.
On Tuesday, someone mentioned that there was indeed a final week scenario that could keep the Mariners in Serie A in 2026, farfetched though it may be.
First, the Mariners would need to upset the second place Osos Rivas in Gijón, something that we had never done in ten previous Osos at Mariners games over the years. It was even harder to believe that this would happen given our having lost our previous four games of the season with the needed invocation of the Mercy Rule. Add to that the fact the four game stretch started in Madrid with a 38-0 loss to the Osos and you can see why the road to staying in Serie A in 2026 seemed like a pipe dream.
Final Score: Gijón Mariners 22 - Osos Rivas 15
JODER!
Now, what was the second part of that two game parlay?
Oh yes, today in the Eastern Conference the Barcelona Pagesos (1-5-1) were hosting the L'Hospitalet Pioners (2-5). If the Pioners won this contest, then the Pagesos would have the worst record in Serie A and they would be the ones facing relegation in 2026, not the Mariners.
Well, I'll be damned,
MIRACLES DO STILL HAPPEN!
I thought that we were all over the moon happy at last night's dinner party, but this news made every self-respecting Mariner absolutely giddy on this now even more gorgeous Sunday!
Our collective sports psyches were intact, the Mariners would still be in Serie A in 2026 as Gijón's 2-6 final record is better than Barcelona's 1-5-1 season account!
There was one other game in the Eastern conference today.
The Terrassa Reds (5-1-1) had
an easy time getting past the
Mallorca Voltors (3-5)
Now for a recap of all of the Serie A Week 10 action.
LNFA Serie A
Western Conference Week 10 Results
Gijón (2-6) 22 - Rivas (4-4) 15
Coslada (4-4) 28 - Zaragoza (2-6) 16
BYE: Las Rozas (8-0)
Final Western Conference Standings
1. Las Rozas Black Demons 8-0
2T. Osos Rivas 4-4
Coslada Camioneros 4-4
4T. Gijón Mariners 2-6
Zaragoza Hurricanes 2-6
Serie A Semi-Final Playoffs
Sat. or Sun., April 12-13, 2025
#1 Las Rozas (8-0) and #2 Rivas (4-4)
both await their Eastern
Conference opponents
LNFA Serie A
Eastern Conference Week 10 Results
L'Hospitalet (3-5) 24 - Barcelona (1-6-1) 20
Terrassa (5-1-1) 35 - Mallorca (3-5) 6
BYE: Badalona (6-1)
Eastern Conference Standings
1. Badalona Dracs 6-1
2. Terrassa Reds 5-1-1
3T. L'Hospitalet 3-5
Mallorca Voltors 3-5
5. Barcelona Pagesos 1-6-1
Eastern Conference Week 11 Schedule
Sat. or Sun., April 5-6, 2025
Makeup of a Suspended Game
Badalona (6-1) at Terrassa (5-1-1)
The winner of this makeup game will earn the Eastern Conference's #1 seed and will host the Osos Rivas (4-4) in one Serie A Semifinal playoff game.
The loser will have to travel to Madrid for their Semifinal playoff game to take on the powerful Las Rozas Black Demons (8-0).
What a crazy American football weekend in Spain.
Sunday on La Playa Poniente just outside
of our apartment was GORGEOUS!
Mariners Team President Kike Prado Alonso called us up asking if we wanted to go out to his country home in Celles for lunch.
Oh heck yes!
Upon arrival, we instantly heard . . .
. . . cow bells!
The herd was . . .
A rustic setting just 20 minutes from urban Gijón.
Kike knew about Laurie's love for camellias. His home has a ton of camellia bushes that his Father had planted years ago and he wanted her to see them.
By the way, Kike inherited his Father's green thumb.
Laurie marveled at the camellias
that came in all colors
I marveled at a different cow bell
ringing herd next to Kike's home
One red variety . . .
. . . and another
I love gargoyles
A Mariners beer drinking board
made by Kike and Mariners co-founder
Daniel Castañon
I thought of this cryptic board as being a tremendous story enhancer.
The pasta for lunch that Kike cooked up for us was as good as we expected just adding to the afternoon's ambience.
Camellia imitating Cotton Candy
Tensi's, Kike's Mother, favorite
flower is not a camellia
Laurie was able to bring home
this bouquet of flowers from Celles
We spied this bull on the drive home
Simply another GREAT day in Asturias thanks to Kike's hospitality. GRACIAS!
When we got home and turned on the computer, I was happy to see that the Mariners excellent Team Photographer, Felipe, had posted many wonderful photos from yesterday's game vs. the Osos.
Did I mention that we tallied a huge upset win in that game?
Well, we did!
Firebrand RB Casta urging on
the Gijón Defense
Post-game, OT José's face on the
left says it all
Angel the DE and Angel the DT
collectively known as "Los Angeles"
LB/DE Rober during the pre-game,
mandatory License Checks
What a great leader this young man has been all season through thick and thin.
He played a marvelous game against the Osos as an Edge Rusher.
Too much yellow for my tastes
Rober leading out the Mariners
one final time
Calde's amazing Onside Kick to start
the game gave us all as they say here,
ANIMOS!
QB Spencer Moore threw a season
high three TD Passes plus connecting
on two 2-point PAT throws
RB Casta's fabulous, one handed
14 yard TD catch to open up
the day's scoring
A nice open field tackle by Ávila
Remember, most of our roster is known by only one name.
Iván Canto has been invaluable
as our LB Coach with a great,
inquisitive American football mind
DB Ávila with yet another
open field tackle
WR/DE Ruben with a catch . . .
. . . and RUN!
Osos DE with hands to OT Jose's
throat as QB Spencer cruises past
for a good gain
Calde's Punting today was a
key factor in our win
Offensive Line Coach Alvaro Palacio
has been great to work with this season
The Pit about to get serious
Head Coach Nacho Valdés
was ecstatic today!
It has been wonderful seeing him grow as the season progressed, his first ever as a Head Coach.
WR Sebas has had a good year
WR Coach Angel Mangado is such
a POSITIVE influence on our staff!
RB David turning the corner . . .
. . . and diving forward for an
extra yard or two
DB Ávila held on to that one
ankle to save the day
Import WR/DB Geoff Green had
a tremendous game on both sides
of the ball on Saturday
DT Jonathan with a Tackle for Loss
WR Geoff Green at the end of his
spectacular 51 yard TD catch
Two-Point PAT Ballet
with WR Ruben hauling it in
GREAT Kickoff Coverage!
WR Ruben starting his . . .
. . . amazing 60 yard romp to
the End Zone for a third Mariners TD
The stands were now sensing the
gravity of what was happening,
UPSET ALERT!
WR Geoff Green making a fine
catch for two more Gijón points
Celebrate INDEED Geoff!
He is Matteo, our Team Captain and Defensive End.
DB Pablo holding on for dear life!
Uh oh, this could be trouble
DB Walter had a key interception
in the Second Quarter
He quietly and expertly teaches much needed fundamentals at every practice to our young DB corps.
GET THERE!
Pressure at the Point of Attack
VICTORY!
WHAT AN AMAZING DAY!
I could not have been any prouder of this group of young men who stayed the course and kept the faith until the end of the season.
WELL DONE MARINERS!
Thought from the net . . .
It's possible that this
"Made My Day"
