The 2020 LFA season was the fifth season of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA), the top American football league in Mexico. The regular season began on February 8 and was to conclude on April 26, with the playoffs beginning on May 1 and ending with the Tazón México V on May 17. Nevertheless, after week 5, on March 16, the LFA announced the suspension of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic[1][2] and on 29 March 2020 the league confirmed that the season was cancelled.[3]
2020 LFA season | |
---|---|
Duration | 8 February 2020 – 8 March 2020 |
Date | Not held |
Venue | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
Preseason events
editExpansion and stadium changes
editOne new team joined the league: Pioneros, based in Querétaro City.[4] Due to Pioneros joining the LFA and the league failing to secure a tenth expansion team, thus raising the number of teams to nine, the LFA took the decision that the Mayas would not participate in the season, returning in 2021. This decision was also made taking in consideration the change of ownership in the team.[5]
Four teams switched stadiums:
- Artilleros, previously playing at Estadio Templo del Dolor (with capacity of 4,500 spectators), moved to the Estadio Universitario BUAP, that can accommodate 19,283 spectators. The stadium, originally built from 1997 to 1999, was renovated in 2012 and used to host Lobos BUAP, Liga MX matches until 2019, when the club was dissolved.[6]
- Fundidores moved to Estadio Borregos, with a capacity of 10,057 spectators. The stadium is owned by the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education and it is used by college football team Borregos Salvajes Monterrey. Before, Fundidores played at the Estadio Nuevo León Unido, that could only accommodate 1,500 people.[7][8]
- Mexicas, formerly playing at Casco de Santo Tomás Field (with capacity of 2,000 spectators), moved to the Estadio Perros Negros in Naucalpan. The stadium can accommodate 2,500 spectators.[9]
- Raptors, previously playing at FES Acatlán (with capacity of 2,500 spectators), moved to the Estadio José Ortega Martínez, with a capacity of 3,700 seated spectators. The team already played at the stadium during the 2018 season.[10]
Coaching changes
edit- Fundidores: Carlos Strevel replaced Israel González as head coach of the team. González previously coached the team for two seasons (2018 and 2019) reaching playoffs once.[11]
- Mexicas: Héctor Toxqui was chosen to replace Enrique Zárate as head coach of the team. As of the 2020 season, Mexicas is the only team in the league to have had a different coach for each one of its five seasons.[12]
Draft
editThe 2020 draft was the largest so far, declaring more than 70 senior players from ONEFA, CONADEIP and FADEMAC for the first time. The draft was held on January 11 at the FES Acatlán facilities.[13]
Draft 2020 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rd | Sel. | LFA Team | Player | Pos. | University | Conf. |
SP | 1 | Pioneros | José Pablo Morales | DB | Borregos ITESM Querétaro | Liga Mayor ONEFA |
2 | Condors | César Pérez Durán | DL | Águilas Blancas IPN | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
1 | 1 | Pioneros | Edgar Padilla | LB | Águilas Blancas IPN | Liga Mayor ONEFA |
2 | Mexicas | Jerónimo Arzate | CB | Pumas CU UNAM | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
3 | Osos | Daniel Rubio | RB | Potros Salvajes UAEM | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
4 | Dinos | Carlos Mercado | OL | Borregos Salvajes Monterrey | Liga Premier CONADEIP | |
5 | Artilleros | Diego Bedolla | OL | Aztecas UDLAP | Liga Premier CONADEIP | |
6 | Fundidores | Martín Maldonado | DL | Borregos Salvajes Monterrey | Liga Premier CONADEIP | |
7 | Raptors | Ricardo Sainz | WR/DB | Pumas CU UNAM | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
8 | Condors | Luis Adán Ochoa | DL | Águilas Blancas IPN | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
2 | 9 | Pioneros | Saúl Aguilar | OL | Auténticos Tigres UANL | Liga Mayor ONEFA |
10 | Mexicas | Daniel Concepción | OL | Águilas Blancas IPN | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
11 | Osos | Carlos Garza | LB | Leones Anáhuac Norte | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
12 | Fundidores vía Dinos | Josué Antonio López | OL | Águilas Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
13 | Artilleros | Osvaldo Zumalacarregui | DB | Aztecas UDLAP | Liga Premier CONADEIP | |
14 | Fundidores | Cosme Lozano | DB | Borregos Salvajes Monterrey | Liga Premier CONADEIP | |
15 | Raptors | Alfonso Trejos | DL | Burros Blancos IPN | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
16 | Condors | Luis Canela | LB | Pumas CU UNAM | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
3 | 17 | Pioneros | Ricardo Servín | RB | Pumas UNAM Acatlán | Liga Mayor ONEFA |
18 | Mexicas | Gerardo Rarmírez | CB | Pumas CU UNAM | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
19 | Osos | Hanscel López | QB | Potros Salvajes UAEM | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
20 | Fundidores vía Dinos | Edgar Cortez | OL | Auténticos Tigres UANL | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
21 | Artilleros | Diego Torres | LB | Aztecas UDLAP | Liga Premier CONADEIP | |
22 | Fundidores | Enrique Zepeda | LB | Auténticos Tigres UANL | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
23 | Raptors | Marco Camacho | WR | Borregos Salvajes México | Liga Premier CONADEIP | |
24 | Condors | Daniel Murillo | DL | Pumas CU UNAM | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
4 | 25 | Mexicas vía Pioneros | Brandon López | QB | Toros Salvajes Chapingo | Liga Mayor ONEFA |
26 | Mexicas | Ricardo Razo | SS | Leones Anáhuac Norte | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
27 | Raptors vía Osos | Gustavo Orostico | DB | Burros Blancos IPN | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
28 | Fundidores vía Dinos | Patricio Garza | WR | Lobos UAdeC | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
29 | Artilleros | Jorge Eduardo Retana | WR | Aztecas UDLAP | Liga Premier CONADEIP | |
30 | Fundidores | Itan Salas | LB | Auténticos Tigres UANL | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
31 | Raptors | Rodrigo Aquino | WR | Burros Blancos IPN | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
32 | Condors | Jorge Sámano | LB | Leones Anáhuac Norte | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
5 | 33 | Mexicas vía Pioneros | Mario Ortiz | WR | Leones Anáhuac Norte | Liga Mayor ONEFA |
34 | Mexicas | Eduardo Jiménez | WR | Burros Blancos IPN | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
35 | Osos | Alejandro Sánchez | OL | Potros Salvajes UAEM | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
36 | Fundidores vía Dinos | Marco Santana | QB | Lobos UAdeC | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
37 | Artilleros | Marco Covarrubias | OL | Aztecas UDLAP | Liga Premier CONADEIP | |
38 | Fundidores | Pick declined | ||||
39 | Raptors | Julio Villarreal | DL | Leones Anáhuac Norte | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
40 | Condors | Alberto González | K | Pumas CU UNAM | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
6 | 41 | Pioneros | Jorge Contreras | OL | Pumas UNAM Acatlán | Liga Mayor ONEFA |
42 | Mexicas | Fernando Hernández | Toros Salvajes Chapingo | Liga Mayor ONEFA | ||
43 | Raptors vía Osos | Luis González | OL | Pumas UNAM Acatlán | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
44 | Dinos | Ángel Martínez | DL | Lobos UAdeC | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
45 | Artilleros | Jorge Bravo | WR | Aztecas UDLAP | Liga Premier CONADEIP | |
46 | Raptors | Sean Muzquiz | DL | Leones Anáhuac Norte | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
47 | Condors | Mario Alberto Hernández | WR | Pumas CU UNAM | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
7 | 49 | Pioneros | Pick declined | |||
50 | Mexicas | Emmanuel Vargas | DL | Águilas Blancas IPN | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
51 | Raptors vía Osos | Jorge Guzmán | DE | Pumas CU UNAM | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
52 | Dinos | Andrés Castro | DB | Lobos UAdeC | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
53 | Artilleros | Diego Vásquez | WR | Lobos BUAP | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
54 | Raptors | Eric Remigio | WR | Búhos IPN | Liga Mayor FADEMAC | |
55 | Condors | Yannic Hernández | DB | Burros Blancos IPN | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
8 | 57 | Mexicas | Raymundo Mora | OL | Frailes UT | Liga Mayor ONEFA |
58 | Osos | Pick declined | ||||
59 | Dinos | Fernando Gómez | WR | Auténticos Tigres UANL | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
60 | Artilleros | Geovanni Gómez | CB | Lobos BUAP | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
61 | Raptors | Miguel Ríos | DL | Leones Anáhuac Norte | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
62 | Condors | Yair Alejandro Márquez | QB | Águilas Blancas IPN | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
9 | 63 | Mexicas | Sergio Soriano | OL | Águilas Blancas IPN | Liga Mayor ONEFA |
64 | Artilleros | Brandon Barrios | DB | Lobos BUAP | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
65 | Raptors | Ozdi Nimrod Barona | QB | Pumas UNAM Acatlán | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
66 | Condors | Gustavo Aguilar | RB | Pumas UNAM Acatlán | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
10 | 67 | Mexicas | Carlos Climaco | RB | Burros Blancos IPN | Liga Mayor ONEFA |
68 | Artilleros | Diego Ruíz | QB | Aztecas UDLAP | Liga Premier CONADEIP | |
69 | Raptors | César Iván Alanís | OL | Frailes UT | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
70 | Condors | Javier Arceo | RB | Linces UVM | Liga Mayor ONEFA | |
11 | 71 | Artilleros | Kevin Brian Correa | RB | Aztecas UDLAP | Liga Premier CONADEIP |
72 | Artilleros | Diego Huerta | LB | Aztecas UDLAP | Liga Premier CONADEIP | |
73 | Artilleros | Alberto Adduci Bellizi | OL | Aztecas UDLAP | Liga Premier CONADEIP |
*In exchange for draft selection in the Mayan draft, Dinos gave Fundidores selections in the second, third, fourth, and fifth round of the 2020 draft. ** In exchange for WR Aldo Narvaes and Josep Acosta, Pioneers gave Mexica selections in the fourth and fifth round of the 2020 draft. *** In exchange for Mayan draft picks, Osos gave Raptors selections in the fourth, sixth, and seventh round of the 2020 draft.
Mayas draft
editFor the 2020 season, the 8 teams of the LFA made a draft of the Mayas' players who declared themselves eligible to play the 2020 season with some other team in the league, with the intention to continue playing and not lose the pace of competition. Artilleros declined participation by arguing not to be interested in any Mayas' players.
Mayas draft | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rd | Sel. | LFA Team | Player | Pos. | ||
1 | 1 | Mexicas | Isaac Medina | DL | ||
2 | Fundidores | *Marco García | QB | |||
3 | Dinos | Omar Cojolum | RB | |||
4 | Osos | Leonel Ramírez | OL | |||
5 | Raptors | Edgar White | LB | |||
6 | Pioneros | Ramiro Pruneda | OL | |||
7 | Condors | Josué Martínez | WR | |||
2 | 8 | Mexicas | Diego Magaña | DL | ||
9 | Dinos vía Fundidores | Mariano Vargas | OL | |||
10 | Dinos | Lennin Ortiz | RB | |||
11 | Osos | Jonathan Segura | OL | |||
12 | Raptors | Jesús Sosa Piña | RB | |||
13 | Pioneros | Álvaro Camacho | QB | |||
14 | Condors | Luis David Martínez | WR | |||
3 | 15 | Mexicas | Uriel Ávalos | DE | ||
16 | Osos | Juan Vázquez | DB | |||
17 | Raptors | Adan Hernández | SS | |||
18 | Pioneros | **Jordi Saldaña | FS | |||
19 | Condors | Ricardo Espinoza | CB | |||
4 | 20 | Mexicas | Uriel López | LB | ||
21 | Osos | José Falcón | CB | |||
22 | Raptors | Christian Gómez | WR | |||
24 | Condors | Luis Zárate | LB | |||
5 | 20 | Mexicas | Carlos Díaz | TE | ||
21 | Osos | Sebastián Baig | LB | |||
22 | Raptors | Edgar Arroyo | RB | |||
24 | Condors | Marco Morales | WR | |||
6 | 25 | Mexicas | Jonathan García | LB | ||
26 | Osos | Gustavo Ramos | WR | |||
27 | Raptors | José Garatachea | SS | |||
28 | Condors | Fernando Aguirre | DL | |||
7 | 29 | Raptors | Arturo Callejos | QB |
*He declined his hiring for labor reasons | **Hired by the Raptors
Teams
editTeam | City | Stadium | Capacity | Head coach | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
North Division | |||||
Dinos | Saltillo, Coahuila | Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero | 8,000 | Javier Adame | |
Fundidores | Monterrey, Nuevo León | Estadio Borregos | 10,057 | Carlos Strevel | |
Pioneros | Querétaro City, Querétaro | Unidad Deportiva El Pueblito | 4,000 | Rassielh López | |
Raptors | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Estadio José Ortega Martínez | 3,700 | Guillermo Gutiérrez | |
Central Division | |||||
Artilleros | Puebla City, Puebla | Estadio Universitario BUAP | 19,283 | Gustavo Torres | |
Condors | Mexico City | Estadio ITESM Santa Fe | 2,500 | Félix Buendía | |
Mexicas | Mexico City | Estadio Perros Negros | 2,500 | Héctor Toxqui | |
Osos | Toluca, State of Mexico | Estadio Fortaleza Siglo XXI | 4,000 | Horacio García |
Season structure
editThe training camp began in the first week of November 2019, some teams started early, as the case of Condors and Dinos that began at the end of October. The regular season is played from February to April. Each team faces each of the teams of their respective division twice, once at home and once as a visitor. There will also be 4 games between conferences, each team will have two home games and two visiting. There will be three bye weeks: one between week 5 and 6 and also for teams that enter playoffs between week 10 and the conference finals, and one week before the Tazón México V.
Suspension
editOn March 16, after Week 5, the league announced the indefinite suspension of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was informed that none of the eight team players were affected by the virus. It was also announced that all the foreign players participating in the league as part of the LFA-CFL agreement would return immediately to their countries.[2]
Cancellation
editOn April 29, Alejandro Jaimes, the LFA commissioner, announced that the season would be cancelled and that the league would return until 2021.[3]
Regular season
editStandings
editNote: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, PF = Points for, PA = Points against
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Results
editWeek 1 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Away | Score | Home | Venue | Date | Time | TV | |
Raptors | 13–5 | Mexicas | Estadio Perros Negros | February 7 | 20:00 | Claro Sports | |
Condors | 29–7 | Pioneros | Unidad Deportiva El Pueblito | February 8 | 12:00 | TUDN, Claro Sports | |
Artilleros | 10–12 | Dinos | Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero | February 8 | 18:30 | Claro Sports, Multimedios, RCG TV, Televisa | |
Fundidores | 20–14 | Osos | Fortaleza Siglo XXI | February 9 | 12:00 | Claro Sports, Nuestra Visión (USA) |
Week 2 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Away | Score | Home | Venue | Date | Time | TV | |
Dinos | 23–15 | Fundidores | Estadio Borregos | February 14 | 20:00 | Multimedios, Claro Sports, Nuestra Visión (USA) | |
Mexicas | 26–24 | Artilleros | Estadio Universitario BUAP | February 15 | 12:00 | TUDN, Televisa, Claro Sports | |
Pioneros | 2–19 | Raptors | Estadio José Ortega Martínez | February 15 | 17:00 | Claro Sports | |
Osos | 10–27 | Condors | Estadio ITESM Santa Fe | February 16 | 12:00 | Claro Sports |
Week 3 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Visitor | Score | Home | Stadium | Date | Time | TV | |
Osos | 16–15 | Mexicas | Estadio Perros Negros | February 22 | 14:00 | Claro Sports, TUDN | |
Raptors | 29–30 | Dinos | Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero | February 22 | 19:00 | Multimedios, Claro Sports, RCG TV | |
Artilleros | 18–29 | Condors | Estadio ITESM Santa Fe | February 23 | 12:00 | Claro Sports, Televisa | |
Fundidores | 23–3 | Pioneros | Unidad Deportiva El Pueblito | February 23 | 15:00 | Claro Sports |
Week 4 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Visitor | Score | Home | Stadium | Date | Time | TV | |
Mexicas | 13–19 | Fundidores | Estadio Borregos | February 28 | 20:30 | Multimedios, Claro Sports | |
Osos | 7–23 | Raptors | Estadio José Ortega Martínez | February 29 | 17:00 | Claro Sports | |
Dinos | 20–26 | Condors | Estadio ITESM Santa Fe | March 1 | 12:00 | Claro Sports | |
Pioneros | 19–24 | Artilleros | Estadio Universitario BUAP | March 14 | 14:00 | Televisa, Claro Sports |
Week 5 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Visitor | Score | Home | Stadium | Date | Time | TV | |
Condors | 10–27 | Mexicas | Estadio Perros Negros | March 7 | 12:00 | Claro Sports | |
Fundidores | 0–28 | Raptors | Estadio José Ortega Martínez | March 7 | 17:00 | Claro Sports | |
Pioneros | 9–8 | Dinos | Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero | March 7 | 18:30 | Televisa, Claro Sports, RCG TV | |
Artilleros | 31–21 | Osos | Universidad Siglo XXI | March 8 | 12:00 | Claro Sports, Televisa |
Week 6 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Visitor | Score | Home | Stadium | Date | Time | TV | |
Fundidores | cancelled | Dinos | Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero | March 21 | 18:30 | Televisa, Claro Sports, RCG TV | |
Artilleros | cancelled | Mexicas | Estadio Perros Negros | March 21 | 19:00 | Claro Sports, Televisa | |
Osos | cancelled | Condors | ITESM Santa Fe | March 22 | 12:00 | Claro Sports | |
Raptors | cancelled | Pioneros | La Pirámide | March 22 | 15:00 | Claro Sports |
Week 7 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Visitor | Score | Home | Stadium | Date | Time | TV | |
Pioneros | cancelled | Fundidores | Estadio Nuevo León Unido | March 27 | 20:00 | Televisa Claro Sports | |
Condors | cancelled | Artilleros | Estadio Universitario BUAP | March 28 | 14:00 | Televisa Claro Sports | |
Dinos | cancelled | Raptors | José Ortega Martínez | March 28 | 17:00 | Claro Sports | |
Mexicas | cancelled | Osos | Universidad Siglo XXI | March 29 | 12:00 | Claro Sports |
Week 8 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Visitor | Score | Home | Stadium | Date | Time | TV | |
Fundidores | cancelled | Artilleros | Estadio Universitario BUAP | April 4 | 14:00 | Televisa Claro Sports | |
Osos | cancelled | Dinos | Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero | April 4 | 18:30 | Televisa Claro Sports RCG TV | |
Raptors | cancelled | Condors | ITESM Santa Fe | April 5 | 12:00 | Claro Sports | |
Mexicas | cancelled | Pioneros | La Pirámide | April 5 | 15:00 | Claro Sports |
Week 9 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Visitor | Score | Home | Stadium | Date | Time | TV | |
Condors | cancelled | Fundidores | Estadio Nuevo León Unido | April 17 | 20:00 | Televisa Claro Sports | |
Pioneros | cancelled | Osos | Universidad Siglo XXI | April 18 | 12:00 | Claro Sports | |
Artilleros | cancelled | Raptors | José Ortega Martínez | April 18 | 17:00 | Claro Sports Televisa | |
Dinos | cancelled | Mexicas | Estadio Perros Negros | April 19 | 13:00 | Claro Sports |
Week 10 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Visitor | Score | Home | Stadium | Date | Time | TV | |
Raptors | cancelled | Fundidores | Estadio Nuevo León Unido | April 24 | 20:00 | Televisa Claro Sports | |
Osos | cancelled | Artilleros | Estadio Universitario BUAP | April 25 | 14:00 | Televisa Claro Sports | |
Mexicas | cancelled | Condors | ITESM Santa Fe | April 25 | 12:00 | Claro Sports | |
Dinos | cancelled | Pioneros | La Pirámide | April 26 | 15:00 | Claro Sports |
References
edit- ^ "Calendario LFA 2020 – LFA". LFA.mx (in Spanish). LFA. 24 December 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ a b @LFAmex (16 March 2020). "BREAKING NEWS" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Coronavirus obliga a cancelar temporada 2020 de la LFA". ESPN.com.mx (in Spanish). 30 April 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Pioneros de Querétaro se suma a la LFA". LFA.mx (in Spanish). LFA. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ "Se va el bicampeón Mayas de la LFA". Reporte Indigo (in Spanish). 3 December 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ "Artilleros LFA anuncia su nueva casa". LFA.mx (in Spanish). LFA. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ "Fundidores jugará en el estadio Borregos del Tec de Monterrey". LFA.mx (in Spanish). LFA. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ "¡Todo listo! Conoce el nuevo Estadio Borregos del campus Monterrey". Tec.mx (in Spanish). ITESM. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ "Las sedes de la temporada V". LFA.mx (in Spanish). LFA. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "Del Palillo Martínez al estadio Borregos: 21 diferentes inmuebles ha tenido la LFA". Máximo Avance (in Spanish). 28 January 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ ""Queremos construir un Fundidores triunfador": Coach Strevel". LFA.mx (in Spanish). LFA. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "Cinco años cinco Coaches". LFA.mx (in Spanish). LFA. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "Sábado de Draft en la LFA". Marca.com (in Spanish). 11 January 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.