International football may be rapidly growing south of the border, but that doesn’t mean its roots don’t run deep.

Typically, when discussing football in relation to Mexico, one immediately thinks of soccer. However, the nation has also been a hotbed of American football for many years. Surprisingly, the sport has been played south of the border since the 1920’s.

Although numerous colleges and universities fielded American football teams for many years prior, the first organized Mexican collegiate American football league was founded in 1970.

Today, Mexico’s American football league, which was renamed the National Student Organization of American Football [ONEFA] in 1978, fields 100 different teams that are divided into four conferences. ONEFA has evolved into the national governing body for the sport in Mexico as the conferences are separated into: college, high school, junior high school and youth leagues.

Last week, the University de las Americas Puebla collegiate football team, which is based in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico, traveled across the border for an exhibition contest against the Division I [FCS] University of San Diego Toreros.

The team looked poised and ready to compete during its walk-out prior to the game:

Although the exhibition did not end the way the Americas Puebla football team would have liked, it was beneficial on many levels. The team proved it could compete with its American counterparts as the score was tied 7-7 deep into the second quarter. The team also made a number of tremendous plays against the Toreros throughout the contest.

The @USDFootball Toreros defeat UDLAP Aztecas 49-25 in unique international contest at Torero Stadium. #gamechangers #sandiego pic.twitter.com/7pDE0KyQmO

— USD Toreros (@USDToreros) November 6, 2016

Football doesn’t just unite local communities, the sport has become an international diplomat for the American way of life. 

In fact, the USD Toreros head coach Dale Lindsey was hoping to recruit some of the Mexican fans in attendance, who were quite loud and excited throughout the contest, to stick around for next week’s USD game.

“A few times, I thought there were 30,000 people in the stadium,” Lindsey said to The San Diego Union-Tribune. “They were beating those sticks, making noise. I thought, ‘By gosh, can we get you to stay and root for us next week?’ I thought it was fabulous.”

The timing of the game is perfect, especially considering Monday Night Football is traveling to Mexico City on November 21 for the game between the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Texans. The contest is the first Monday Night Football game ever to be played outside of the United States and tickets to the event quickly sold out.

"Today's sellout further confirms what a passionate fan base we have in Mexico," said Commissioner Goodell said to NFL.com.

The roots of American football run deep in Mexico.

Here are some wrap-up interviews and highlights from the game:

Photo courtesy of Twitter/USDFootball