The Italian Football League hits the halfway point with a weekend full of excitement. Guelfi Firenze dominate the showdown against Giaguari Torino to take sole possession of first place in Group B. Dolphins Ancona edge the reigning champions at the buzzer and move up to second in Group A. Rhinos Milano and Skorpions Varese return to winning ways, reigniting their playoff hopes.
Week 7 marks the end of the regular season’s first half, and it certainly lived up to expectations. The top matchups in Florence and Ancona showcased some of the best football of the season, with high-level performances, drama, and late-game heroics. Guelfi and Dolphins confirmed their status as title contenders, while Rhinos and Skorpions earned crucial wins to stay in the playoff hunt. As the league heads into the second half of the season, everything is still up for grabs.
GUELFI FIRENZE vs GIAGUARI TORINO – 55-28
Guelfi Firenze dominated the battle for first place in Group B with another explosive offensive display, this time matched by a decisive defensive performance. Giaguari struck first with a touchdown pass from Evan Lewandowski to Tavion McCarthy (PAT by Jacopo Salsa), but Firenze immediately answered with a score from Andrea Fimiani to Matteo Bellesi, followed by the extra point from Francesco Camorani. After a 7-7 first quarter, the Guelfi took control: a 1-yard rushing TD by Collin Schooler, two touchdown passes from Fimiani to Frankie Stola, another rushing TD by Fimiani, plus two-point conversions by Fimiani and Schooler, and another PAT by Camorani. The Giaguari tried to keep pace with a long TD pass from Lewandowski to Salsa, who also made the extra point, but the 35-14 halftime score was already a gap too wide. In the third quarter, Fimiani found Stola again for six more, and Eystin Salum sealed the deal with a pick six, both PATs good by Camorani. Lewandowski and Salsa connected once more, but it was too late. Fimiani added another rushing touchdown before Lewandowski threw his fourth of the game to Andrea Serra. Firenze remains undefeated and comfortably atop Group B, scoring over 50 points for the third time this season.
DOLPHINS ANCONA vs PANTHERS PARMA – 27-24
A thrilling contest in Ancona saw the Dolphins take down the defending champions with a game-winning field goal just six seconds from the end. The Panthers started strong with a TD pass from Robbie Patterson to Marian Cebotaru, converted by Matteo Felli. But in the second quarter, Ancona flipped the script: Blake Eaton hit Tyler Terhark to tie it, then found Federico Orlandini for the go-ahead score, with Cristiano Brancaccio perfect on both PATs. A key forced fumble by the Dolphins defense on their own goal line preserved the 14-7 lead going into halftime. In the third, the Panthers tied it with Patterson connecting with Dominick Fiscelli, but Ancona answered with Eaton hitting Ennio Iudicone. Patterson-Fiscelli struck again early in the fourth to level the score at 24, but Ancona’s final drive was textbook. They methodically moved into field goal range, and Brancaccio nailed the game-winner. The Dolphins overtake Parma in the standings, securing second place in Group A behind the still-undefeated Frogs.
LIONS BERGAMO vs RHINOS MILANO – 10-34
The Rhinos returned to winning ways after three straight losses, taking down the still-winless Lions Bergamo in convincing fashion. Marquez McCray opened the game with a 70-yard touchdown run, followed by a pick six from Bruno Escobar, both PATs by Giacomo Sarra. In the second quarter, McCray added another rushing touchdown and Sarra remained flawless at the foot. The Lions finally responded before halftime with a TD pass from Jay Butterfield to Giovanni Zani, converted by Pierangelo Galbiati. The second half saw tighter defense from both sides. Galbiati kicked a field goal to bring it to 21-10, but Jordan Bouah scored on the ground for Milano, and the final nail came with a TD pass from McCray to Escobar, both scores converted by Sarra. Rhinos now stand 2-3, holding onto fourth place in Group A.
LAZIO MARINES vs SKORPIONS VARESE – 12-41
The Skorpions Varese continued their strong form following last week’s close loss to the Guelfi, dominating the Lazio Marines on the road and keeping their playoff hopes alive. Quarterback Hamish McClure was unstoppable, throwing five touchdown passes—two to Andrea Volonnino, one each to Martino Piazzi, Matteo Rai, and Roberto Zanovello. Dylan Auriemma added a 3-yard rushing touchdown to cap off the offensive showcase. The Marines never found a way to break through the aggressive Skorpions defense, managing only two field goals by Jacopo Impallomeni and a late TD pass from Josiah Norwood to Adalberto Rinaldi. With this win, Varese climbs to third in Group B and reasserts itself as a serious playoff contender.
STANDINGS
GROUP A
- FROGS Legnano — 5-0
- DOLPHINS Ancona — 4-1
- PANTHERS Parma — 3-2
- RHINOS Milano — 2-3
- WARRIORS Bologna — 1-4
- LIONS Bergamo — 0-5
GROUP B
- GUELFI Firenze — 6-0
- GIAGUARI Torino — 4-1
- SKORPIONS Varese — 2-3
- PIRATES Albisola* — 1-3
- MARINES Lazio — 1-4
- AQUILE Ferrara — 1-4
Standings and schedule: https://www.fidaf.org/campionati/
Further insights: https://1divisione.fidaf.org/
Ph. credits: @Monica Audoglio
Per informazioni:
Barbara Allaria
Press & Communication Officer
0331-770343 / 338-6541305
press@fidaf.org
FIDAF – Italian Federation of American Football
c/o CONI – Palazzo H – Piazza Lauro de Bosis 15 00135 Rome (RM)
+39 06 3272 3221 | ufficiostampa@fidaf.org | http://www.fidaf.org
