The 2022 LFA season was the seventh season of operation (sixth season of play) of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA), the top American football league in Mexico. The regular season began on 4 March and concluded on 24 April, with the playoffs beginning on April 30 and ending with the Tazón México V, on 21 May.[1] The league returned after a two-season hiatus.
Fundidores won their first LFA championship after defeating Gallos Negros 18–14 in the Tazón México V, played in Tijuana.[2]
Preseason events
Expansion
Two new teams joined the league for the 2022 season: Galgos de Tijuana, based in Tijuana, and Reyes de Jalisco, based in Zapopan, Jalisco.[3][4] The league also lost one team, Osos de Toluca, that folded in January 2021.[5] With these changes, the 2022 season will be contested by seven teams and, unlike the previous seasons, the league will not be divided into two divisions. As a result, the league decided to expand the playoff field from four teams to six teams. The top two teams will have a bye in the quarterfinals and will host home field in the semifinals.
Condors originally relocated to Querétaro City, and changed its name to Condors de Querétaro, after their acquisition to the ownership group that owned Querétaro F.C. On 3 February 2022, the team officially were rebranded as Gallos Negros de Querétaro. Following the rebrand, the league considers Gallos Negros as a new franchise that began competing in the 2022 season.[6][7]
Stadium changes
Draft
Teams
Team
|
City
|
Stadium
|
Capacity
|
Head coach
|
Dinos
|
Saltillo, Coahuila
|
Estadio Francisco I. Madero
|
16,000
|
Javier Adame
|
Fundidores
|
Monterrey, Nuevo León
|
Estadio Banorte
|
10,057
|
Carlos Strevel
|
Galgos
|
Tijuana, Baja California
|
Estadio Caliente
|
27,333
|
Guillermo Ruiz Burguete
|
Gallos Negros
|
Querétaro City, Querétaro
|
Estadio Olímpico de Querétaro
|
4,600
|
Félix Buendía
|
Mexicas
|
Iztacalco, Mexico City
|
Estadio Jesús Martínez "Palillo"
|
6,000
|
Héctor Toxqui
|
Raptors
|
Naucalpan, State of Mexico
|
FES Acatlán
|
2,000
|
Guillermo Gutiérrez
|
Reyes
|
Zapopan, Jalisco
|
Estadio Tres de Marzo
|
18,779
|
Ernesto Alfaro
|
Regular season
Standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, PF = Points For, PA = Points against
Source: LFA
Schedule
Results
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source:
LFALegend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Regular-season statistical leaders
Individual[12]
|
Scoring leader
|
Torin Justice
|
Fundidores
|
42
|
Rubén Zendejas
|
Mexicas
|
Most Field Goals Made
|
Enrique Yenny
|
Dinos
|
29
|
Rushing yards
|
Jordon Shippy
|
Reyes
|
457
|
Passing yards
|
Shelton Eppler
|
Fundidores
|
1,677
|
Passing touchdowns
|
15
|
Interceptions Thrown
|
Bruno Márquez
|
Raptors
|
8
|
Pass receptions
|
Rodnell Cruell
|
Reyes
|
34
|
Pass receiving yards
|
504
|
Combined yards
|
Tavarious Battiste
|
Fundidores
|
715
|
Combined tackles
|
Anthony Patrick
|
Reyes
|
50
|
Interceptions
|
Enrique Altamirano
|
Galgos
|
5
|
Sacks
|
Luis Ceniceros
|
Mexicas
|
7
|
Demetrius Harris
|
Reyes
|
Playoffs
Playoff bracket
Results
Tazón México V
Tazón México V
|
|
|
Gallos Negros
|
vs
|
Fundidores
|
(1-5)
|
|
(4-2)
|
14
|
|
18
|
Head Coach:
|
|
Head Coach:
|
Felix Buendia
|
|
Carlos Strevel
|
|
Date: 21, May 2022
|
Kickoff time: 7 p.m.
|
Stadium: Estadio Caliente
|
Attendance: 14,000
|
MVP: Martín Maldonado, DL
|
Referee: Mario Matos
|
TV:
|
Half time show: Nortec:Bostich+Fussible, Pato Machete
|
← IV • Tazón México • VI →
|
The Tazón México V was held on 21 May 2022 at the Estadio Caliente in Tijuana. It was the first time the Tazón México was held outside of Mexico City. Fundidores became LFA champions after beating Gallos Negros by a score of 14–18.
Scoring summary
|
Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
GAN
|
FUN
|
1
|
5:31
|
1
|
11
|
0:06
|
FUN
|
Marcelo González 11-yard touchdown run, Ricardo Aguilar kick no good
|
0
|
6
|
2
|
1:21
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
GAN
|
Fumble recovery returned 75 yards for touchdown by Jason Linwood Smith, Alberto González kick good
|
7
|
6
|
2
|
0:00
|
3
|
11
|
0:13
|
FUN
|
45-yard field goal by Aguilar
|
7
|
9
|
4
|
10:20
|
14
|
11
|
8:51
|
GAN
|
Marco García 7-yard touchdown run, González kick good
|
14
|
9
|
4
|
3:43
|
15
|
64
|
6:27
|
FUN
|
Brandon Calzoncit 1-yard touchdown run, 2-point no good
|
14
|
15
|
4
|
0:38
|
4
|
5
|
0:24
|
FUN
|
38-yard field goal by Aguilar
|
14
|
18
|
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
|
14
|
18
|
|
Awards
On 22 February 2023, the league announced the winners of the 2022 season awards.[14]
Award
|
Winner
|
(Position)
|
Team
|
Most Valuable Player
|
Shelton Eppler
|
QB
|
Fundidores
|
Offensive Player of the Year
|
Tavarious Battiste
|
WR
|
Fundidores
|
Defensive Player of the Year
|
Demetrius Harris
|
DL
|
Reyes
|
Offensive Rookie of the Year
|
Rubén Zendejas
|
RB
|
Mexicas
|
Defensive Rookie of the Year
|
Luis Ceniceros
|
DL
|
Mexicas
|
Coach of the Year
|
Carlos Strevel
|
Head Coach
|
Fundidores
|
Play of the Year
|
Shelton Eppler, Tavarious Battiste
|
Walk off touchdown on the final play of the Raptors @ Fundidores semifinal
|
Fundidores
|
Notes
References
- ^ a b "Calendario 2022". LFA.mx. December 20, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
- ^ "¡Nuevos monarcas! Fundidores derrota a Gallos y se proclama campeón de la LFA". Mediotiempo.com (in Spanish). May 22, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "Presentan a Reyes de Jalisco, nuevo equipo de la LFA bajo el mando del coach Ernesto Alfaro". Máximo Avance (in Spanish). December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
- ^ Muñoz, Heriberto (November 17, 2021). "Galgos, la pieza que faltaba en el futbol americano de Baja California". El Imparcial (in Spanish). Retrieved January 10, 2022.
- ^ Fernández, Domingo (November 14, 2021). "Osos Toluca se despide de la liga LFA". El Sol de Toluca (in Spanish). Retrieved January 10, 2022.
- ^ "La nueva historia de Gallos Negros en Querétaro". LFA.mx. February 14, 2022.
- ^ González, Francisco (December 7, 2021). "Llegan los Condors a Querétaro". Diario de Querétaro (in Spanish). Retrieved January 10, 2022.
- ^ Arguijo, Aarón (January 21, 2022). "Dinos de Saltillo presenta su temporada 2022". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "Estadio FES Acatlán, la casa oficial de Raptors". LFA.mx (in Spanish). March 2, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- ^ "Luego de violencia en el Estadio Corregidora, Gallos Negros posponen su juego debut en contra de Reyes de Jalisco". A3 Noticias. March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
- ^ "Comunicado Oficial". Facebook (Press release). March 22, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
- ^ "Estadísticas 2022". LFA.mx. Archived from the original on May 8, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- ^ "Tijuana será sede de Tazón México V". El Sol de Tijuana (in Spanish). April 21, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
- ^ "Ganadores de la segunda Gala LFA". LFA.mx (in Spanish). February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.