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GNC Exhibition: Is Mexico's 41-34 OT Thriller Over Canada the Start of Something Special in World Tackle Football?

  • Writer: Jim Mullin
    Jim Mullin
  • 3 days ago
  • 5 min read

Updated: 2 days ago


It may not be the GNC Cup, but Mexico's GNC exhibition victory over Canada may have ushered in a new era in international tackle football. Time will tell.
It may not be the GNC Cup, but Mexico's GNC exhibition victory over Canada may have ushered in a new era in international tackle football. Time will tell.

MEXICO CITY - Mexico City delivered exactly what the Gridiron Nations Championship needed from a provisional exhibition: pace, big plays, and a finish that felt like it mattered.


In front of 8,500 at Estadio Wilfrido Massieu Saturday, Mexico edged Canada 41–34 in overtime, handing the defending GNC Cup holders a rare setback while underscoring Mexico’s case for a deeper role on the senior international stage.


Canada struck first through the air after Mexico opened the scoring. Chris Merchant answered an early Abel García Rosado touchdown pass by finding James Basylaga for a 55-yard score, then hit Rysen John from 20 yards to push Canada ahead 13–7—but a blocked PAT loomed large. Mexico responded with García Rosado’s 11-yard touchdown run and a booming 54-yard field goal from Alfredo Gachuz Lozada to take a 17–13 lead into halftime.


The game swung again in the third when Canada changed quarterbacks, instantly changing the complexion. Michael O’Connor connected with Jaylan Greaves for a 75-yard touchdown just 14 seconds into the half, briefly flipping the momentum before Mexico steadied itself—Lozada added a 42-yard field goal, and Fernando Mayen Marin powered in from three yards to restore a 27–20 edge.


Mexico extended it early in the fourth on a shot play: Iker Ayala hit Hector Alexis Rodríguez Ruiz for a 44-yard touchdown to make it 34–20. Canada, though, found its trademark late-game bite. Merchant answered with a short touchdown to offensive lineman Phil Grohovac, then O’Connor engineered the equalizer in a less than 'one-minute' drill. With :54 seconds left, starting at his own 33 with no timeouts remaining, O'Connor hit Greaves twice to push into Mexico territory, found Rysen John on an 18-yard reception to get to the edge of the red zone, then found Cordell Hastings twice; the first for nine yards with 11 seconds remaining, then the second time with time expired on a 15-yard touchdown to tie the game 34–34 and force overtime.


In the extra period, Mexico finished it on the ground. Ayala scored on an 11-yard run, and Lozada’s PAT sealed it, 41–34.


Statistically, it was a night defined by explosive passing and momentum shifts. O’Connor threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns (with an interception), Merchant added three touchdown passes (and three interceptions), and Greaves headlined Canada’s receiving corps with a massive day with 10 catches for 242 yards and a TD. For Mexico, García Rosado accounted for scores through the air and on the ground, while Ayala’s limited touches produced the game’s biggest throws—and the game-winning run.


For the GNC, the result was secondary to the signal: Mexico matched Canada’s speed, traded punches for four quarters, and delivered a composed overtime finish—precisely the kind of performance that turns a “provisional exhibition” into a genuine statement game.


GNC Exhibition at Mexico City

13 December 2025

Canada 34 at Mexico 41

 

1st Quarter

MEX TD – Abel García Rosado 36 pass to Axel Montini (Alfredo Gachuz Lozada PAT good) – 4:30

MEX 7 - CAN 0


CAN TD – Chris Merchant 55 pass to James Basylaga (Adam Preocanin PAT good) - 10:12 CAN 7 – MEX 7

 

CAN TD – Merchant 30 pass to Rysen John (Preocanin PAT blocked) – 6:05

CAN 13 – MEX 7

 

2nd Quarter

MEX TD – García Rosado 11-yard run (Lozada PAT good) – 14:21

MEX 14 – CAN 13


MEX FG - Lozada, 54-yards – 15:00

MEX 17 – CAN 13

 

3rd Quarter

CAN TD – Michael O’Connor 75 pass to Jaylan Greaves (Preocanin PAT good) – 0:14

CAN 20 – MEX 17

 

MEX FG – Lozada, 42-yards – 4:31

MEX 20 – CAN 20

 

MEX TD – Fernando Mayen Marin 3-yard run (Lozada PAT good) – 12:35

MEX 27 – CAN 20

 

4TH Quarter

MEX TD – Iker Ayala 44 pass to Hector Alexis Rodríguez Ruiz (Lozada PAT good) – 3:23

MEX 34 – CAN 20

 

CAN TD – Merchant 5 pass to Phil Grohovac (Preocanin PAT good) – 10:55

MEX 34 – CAN 27

 

CAN TD – O’Connor 15 pass to Cordell Hastings (Preocanin PAT good) – 15:00

MEX 34 – CAN 34

 

Overtime

MEX TD – Ayala 11 run (Lozada PAT good)

MEX 41 - CAN 34

 

Scoring               1          2          3          4          OT         Total

CANADA           13         0          7          14         0          34

MEXICO              7        10         10         7          7          41

 

A: 8,500


CANADA INDIVIDUAL

PASSING

O'Connor: 12-19-212-2TD, INT; Merchant: 11-17-208-3TD, 3 INT


RECEIVING

Greaves 10-242-TD, John 5-65-TD, Basalyga 1-55-TD, Hastings 2-32-TD, Amis 3-21, Grohavic 1-5-TD.


RUSHING

Lyles 14-33, Merchant 1-18


MEXICO INDIVIDUAL

PASSING

García Rosado: 10-23-106-TD, INT, Ayala: 1-2-44-TD


RECEIVING

Rodriguez Ruiz 2-54-2, Montini 2-41-1, Muñiz Márquez 2-23, Valle Ledesma 1-14, Mayen Marin 1-18, Diaz Castañeda 1-3, Castañeda Cardenas 1-0, Correa Viazcán 1-(-3).


RUSHING

Correa Viazcán 12-58, Mayen Martin 12-35-1, Covarrubias Elizondo 10-36, Montini 9-32, Garcia Rosado 3-21-1, Ayala 7-17


DRIVE CHART – FULL GAME


Canada Drives

#

Q

Time

Start

Plays

Yards

Result

1

Q1

10:12

CAN 25

3

1

Punt

2

Q1

6:05

CAN 29

4

71

TD

3

Q1

1:10

CAN 20

3

29

End Q

4

Q2

12:37

CAN 50

3

42

Fumble (TB)

5

Q2

11:38

MEX 43

5

43

TD (PAT blk)

6

Q2

8:45

MEX 35

2

−1

INT

7

Q2

4:12

CAN 4

9

34

INT

8

Q2

1:01

CAN 20

3

19

INT

9

Q3

15:00

CAN 25

1

75

TD

10

Q3

11:18

CAN 5

5

−2

Punt

11

Q3

4:31

CAN 25

5

36

Miss FG

12

Q3

0:54

CAN 24

4

22

INT

13

Q4

10:28

CAN 25

15

75

TD

14

Q4

0:54

CAN 33

7

67

TD

Canada Totals

  • Drives: 14

  • TDs: 6

  • INTs: 4

  • Fumbles lost: 1

  • Punts: 2

  • Missed FG: 1

Mexico Drives

#

Q

Time

Start

Plays

Yards

Result

1

Q1

14:30

MEX 29

11

83

TD

2

Q1

8:42

MEX 33

6

31

Fumble

3

Q1

4:05

MEX 25

10

28

Punt

4

Q2

12:37

MEX 20

4

3

Punt

5

Q2

8:18

CAN 32

5

23

TOD

6

Q2

1:40

CAN 15

3

15

TD

7

Q2

0:12

MEX 50

3

13

FG

8

Q3

14:39

MEX 23

8

22

Punt

9

Q3

7:39

CAN 26

4

1

FG

10

Q3

3:55

MEX 36

11

61

TD

11

Q4

14:15

MEX 35

9

65

TD

12

Q4

3:39

MEX 34

6

12

Punt

Mexico Totals

  • Drives: 12

  • TDs: 5

  • FGs: 2

  • INTs thrown: 1

  • Fumbles lost: 1

  • Turnover on downs: 1


 
 
 

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