WFL Rematch/Preview
In week 15 of 2018 the Mexico Aztecs marched north to the frozen tundra of Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium to face City of Champions in the Eastern Conference Championship Game (Aztecs head North). They were ranked AF#25 while CoC was AF#14; the temperature at gametime dipped to -5 °C but it was at least sunny. The Aztecs took an early lead, but CoC pulled ahead in the second quarter and never looked back, rolling over Mexico with a final score of 89-51, winning the Conference Trophy, and going on to World Bowl 7, as well as representing the World League in the 2019 Pro Bowl
This time around, Mexico will be facing City of Champions in the cozy environs of Aztec Stadium in the World League’s Week 11 Premier Match in a game that’s both a rematch of the 2018 Conference Championship, and also a possible preview of this year’s game as these two have been mostly dominant in the Eastern Conference all season. AF#57 Mexico (7-3-0) clinched a playoff spot last week with their come from behind victory over Toronto, while AF#16 City of Champions (5-5-0) has stumbled through back to back upset losses, but remain the #2 scoring team in the league and are road favorites in this one.
Mexico would clinch the #1 seed in the East with a win this week, and with it, home field advantage in the Conference Game; CoCo needs the win both to prevent that, and to stay ahead of a rising Youngstown Mafia. Both teams are missing key personnel to bye weeks this week, so a win will require a team effort. (EDITOR’s NOTE: Despite their 7-2-0 record, Mexico remains ranked in the mid range of Association teams largely due to low scoring totals)
AF#57 Mexico – AF#16 City of Champions
7-3-0 – 5-5-0
All Time
51-44-0 – 47-58-0
Head to Head
4-5 – 5-4
Spread
-5.5 – +5.5
RESULTS
76.67 – 121.17 W
UPDATE: In their second consecutive big-game match-up with Mexico, City of Champions has come away with a decisive win, this one 121-76. The Aztecs remain in control of the Western Conference, however, with a 7-4-0 record, while CoC is one game back at 6-5-0. With 2 games left, the Conference #1 seed is still up for grabs, while City of Champions seems assured of getting – at least – the #3 seed Points Wild Card if they don’t grab seed #1 or #2. If the Points Wild Card remains open, Youngstown has a 50 point edge over Buenos Aires, and still has a shot at the #2, and even the #1 seed.
In the Eastern Conference, the 2019 season’s three heavyweights – Milan, London, and Old England – have essentially clinched their post season, a shuffle for seeding is all that’s left over these final two weeks. London dropped one this week to Dublin Bay, while Milan and England both took care of business. At 10-1-0, the Wild Boars of Milan have an oppurtunity to clinch the #1 seed and a first round bye this week when they face off against the Falling in a long awaited match-up; with a loss, they can still clinch in week 12. England, meanwhile gets Scandinavia and is still alive for the #1 seed with a Milan loss. If that happens, they’ll need to beat Milan in the season finale and hope for a London loss to Jerusalem. London owns the total points tiebreaker over both Milan and England, but for them to secure #1, they need to win twice, and hope England can also take out the Boars. Essentially, weeks 11 and 12 have become an extended playoff schedule for these three.