Gerardo Álvarez

Gerardo Elías Álvarez Ovalle[1] (born 15 September 1988) is a Mexican professional gridiron football wide receiver for the Dinos de Saltillo of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA). Álvarez played college football at UAC and previously played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the BC Lions.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Álvarez and the second or maternal family name is Ovalle.
Gerardo Álvarez
refer to caption
Álvarez in 2019
No. 3 – Dinos de Saltillo
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1988-09-15) 15 September 1988
Mexico
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
College:UAC (2006–2010)
CFL Draft:2019 LFA / Round: 3 / Pick: 25
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • ONEFA Northern Conference championship (2009)
  • LFA Best receiver (2017)
Player stats at CFL.ca
Gerardo Álvarez
Medal record
Men’s Flag football
Representing  Mexico
Flag Football World Championship
Silver medal – second place2014 GrossetoTeam

Early career

Álvarez plays American football since he was a kid, where he earned the nickname "Pewee" for his small and thin complexion. Despite this, he was invited by several college football programs to join their teams. Álvarez chose the Lobos of the Autonomous University of Coahuila, where he played from 2006 to 2010, also majoring in Civil engineering.[2][3]

Álvarez became one of the top players of the ONEFA's Northern Conference and was fundamental part of the 2009 Lobos UAC team that won that year's championship after defeating Águilas UACH 31–24 in the final.[4][5]

After finishing his college football eligibility in 2010, Álvarez played flag football and was part of the Mexican team that won the silver medal at the 2014 IFAF Flag Football World Championship.[2]

Professional career

Dinos de Saltillo

In 2016, Álvarez was one of the first players to be signed by the Dinos de Saltillo of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA), Mexico's top American football league, ahead of the 2017 LFA season, Dinos' debut season in the league.[2][6]

In 2017, Álvarez helped the Dinos to reach the Tazón México II, LFA's championship game, in the team's maiden season. Dinos lost the game 18–24 against Mayas CDMX and Álvarez scored one touchdown.[7] Álvarez was awarded as the 2017 LFA's best receiver.[8]

In 2018, Álvarez established a new LFA record for most touchdowns in a single match, in a game against rivals Fundidores de Monterrey, scoring four touchdowns.[2][9][10]

BC Lions

Álvarez was selected by the BC Lions as the 25th pick of the third round of the 2019 CFL–LFA Draft.[11] Álvarez joined the BC Lions, alongside fellow countryman Fernando Richarte.[12]

Álvarez was signed to the practice roster and made his CFL debut on 15 June 2019 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[13]

Álvarez remained on the Lions' roster but returned to Mexico to play the 2020 LFA season with the Dinos, but the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14][15]

Álvarez was re-signed by the Lions for the 2020 CFL season, but the season was not played.

Return to Mexico

After being released by the BC Lions, Álvarez has played for the Dinos de Saltillo.

References
  1. "Roster Dinos". LFA.mx. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  2. Hernández, Emmanuel (19 July 2020). "Gerardo Álvarez, un incansable del fútbol americano". LFA.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  3. "Roster Lobos UAC - Liga Mayor - Onefa". Terra (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 11 August 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  4. "Lobos UAC" (PDF). CD-Pro Guía (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  5. "Gana Lobos título de Conferencia Norte de la ONEFA". Vanguardia (in Spanish). Notimex. 21 November 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  6. Guerrero, Alejandro (17 January 2017). "Define Dinos de Saltillo su roster rumbo a la temporada 2017". Vanguardia (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  7. "Tazón México II". LFA.mx (in Spanish). 17 January 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  8. "Premia Liga de Futbol Americano a lo mejor de la temporada 2017". 20minutos.es (in Spanish). Notimex. 19 January 2018. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  9. "Dinos vs Fundidores". LFA.mx (in Spanish). 17 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  10. "Gerardo Álvarez de Dinos logró 4 recepciones de touchdown". Máximo Avance (in Spanish). 21 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  11. "Mexico's top talent selected at CFL-LFA Draft". cfl.ca. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  12. García, Cinthya (5 June 2020). "LFA Total… En palabras de Gerardo "Pewee" Álvarez". LFA.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  13. "BC Lions Transactions". bclions.com. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  14. Alvarado, Gerardo (6 May 2020). "Sueña con regresar". Zócalo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  15. "Coronavirus obliga a cancelar temporada 2020 de la LFA". ESPN.com.mx (in Spanish). 30 April 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
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