A 42-yard field goal by Reynaldo Blanco (42nd) in the final minute of the game made the difference in a tight Clásico Regio that took place at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, in which the Auténticos Tigres UANL won 13-10 won Monterrey Borregos.
The defense dominated the game, especially in the red zone, which is why it limited the rival to just one touchdown and in both cases until the third quarter.
While Borregos kicker Leonardo Guajardo (24) missed a field goal attempt on his team’s second offense, Blanco scored first on the next series between the uprights, putting UANL ahead in second-quarter action.
Guajardo had a second chance and finally tied it with a 33-yard attempt late in the second quarter.
Halftime adjustments allowed the Tigres to gain more yardage, but suffered a blocked field goal attempt early in the third quarter.
One series later, they moved the ball again until Axel Montini (39) entered the end zone on fourth down and two yards to score.
But their advantage was short-lived. On the next series, Fernando Sarabia, Borregos’ new starting quarterback, scored on the diagonal with Héctor Ramírez (11) and leveled the score at 10 points.
After several attempts, Blanco made a field goal in the final minute of the game to break the tie in the 91st edition of the Royal Classic and give the Tigers victory.
Sarabia suffered three interceptions, two of them by Edgar Ortiz (7), and many hits from the opposing defense that suffocated him for most of the game.
Next week, the Borregos Monterrey have a bye week while the UANL hosts the Borregos CEM (1-0).
