TEXCOCO, MEXICO - 2003

Team USA won its 5th consecutive Mexican title in 7man No Contact IFFF rules but the Mexican teams played extremely competitive as all five games played by Team USA came down to the wire. The Perros Negros of Mexico defeated Team USA 28-19 in round robin play. The Perros Negros took a commanding 20-6 halftime lead and scored the final touchdown with one minute remaining to ice the game. It was the third consecutive year that team USA has lost to a Mexican team in round robin play.
 

In the championship game, Team USA played hometown rival Mike's of Texcoco who were 4-0 up until the match. Mike's was clearly the favorite in this game as they easily beat the team that defeated team USA, Perros Negros, 14-0 to advance to the championship game. Team USA narrowly defeated the Halcones 33-28 to get to the title game.

Team USA's defense stepped up in the title game. On the opening series, Team USA's Jim Wilson intercepted a Pass on the 40 yard line. Then Team USA's QB Chris Vela connected with Scott Tucker on a 10-yards pass to take a 6-0 early lead. Mike's bounced right back and scored on a 15-yards touchdown grab by Francisco Velazquez and Mike's took a 7-6 lead. Team USA marched right down and scored again when QB Vela connected with Lance Batan on a 15-yards touchdown grab and Batan caught the extra point pass as Team USA took back the lead 13-7. Team USA's Jim Wilson then had another interception and QB Vela connected with Claude Lockhart on a 20-yards TD strike to end the half and Team USA took a commanding 19-7 halftime lead. In the second half, Team USA took the opening drive down to Mikes 20 yard line, where on a halfback option pass, Scott Tucker connected with Kyman Harris for a touchdown, bringing the score to 25-7. Mike's marched right down and scored a touchdown when Ramiro Domingo (Mexico's MVP at last year World Cup) made an amazing TD grab in-between two defenders and brought the score to 25-14. Team USA's Isaias Heredia scored on a 62 yard bomb to end the scoring at 31-14 and give the title to the USA.
 

In the women's division, the Pumas upset the Aguilas blancas 12-6 for title. The Dominguez sisters, Gina... all were dominating in the game.
 

Rest of the story soon...

01. Kyman Harris - (WR) - San Francisco, CA
02. Isaias Heredia - Raw Talent (WR) - Miami, FL
03. Jim Zimolka - (QB) - Londonderry, NH
04. Fernando Rodriguez - Verdugos M. F. (WR) - Montevideo, Uruguay
05. Matt Kling - Mr. Steer (WR) - Londonderry, NH
06. Jim Wilson - Alliance (WR & Captain) - Londonderry, NH
07. Kevin Roe - Heat (WR) - Houston, TX
08. Billy Madden - Alliance (TE) - Manchester, NH
09. Scott Tucker - Heat (WR) - Houston, TX
10. Chris Vela - Heat (QB) - Houston, TX
11. Adam Backman - Heat (WR) - Houston, TX
12. Claude Lockhart - Dream Team - Colorado Springs, CO
13. Lance Batan - Swarm - San Diego, CA

- It was the 5th consecutive year Team USA has played in Mexico

- Scott Tucker had 3 kickoffs go out of the endzone (70-yards kicks)
- Uruguay's Fernando Rodriguez played 7Man No Contact with Team USA
- 11 of the 13 Team USA players scored TD's
- In the semis vs. Halcones, Kevin Roe returned 2 interceptions for TDs
- Lance Batan had 3 sacks
- Fernando Rodriguez was special teams MVP with six tackles and a batted pitch preventing a TD in the last play of the tournament