Firenze Guelfi roll past Ancona Dolphins, return to Italian Bowl

The Firenze Guelfi are headed back to the Italian Bowl.

On a scorching afternoon at Guelfi Sport Center, with temperatures reported at 37 degrees Celsius and hydration breaks needed throughout the game, the defending Italian champions overwhelmed the Ancona Dolphins 48–21 in the first Italian Football League semifinal.

The win sends Firenze to Italian Bowl XLV in Ferrara on July 4, where the Guelfi will face the Parma Panthers.

Fast start

The Dolphins arrived in Florence healthier than they had been during their regular-season trip, when they were missing key players, and they had reason to believe this semifinal could be more competitive. Instead, the game turned quickly. Ancona fumbled on the opening kickoff return, and the Guelfi immediately turned the short field into points when quarterback Andrea Fimiani found Eystin Salum for the opening touchdown.

From there, Firenze’s tempo, depth and offensive variety took over.

Guelfi take control

Fimiani was again the centerpiece of the Guelfi attack, hurting Ancona both with his arm and his legs. He ran for multiple touchdowns, threw scoring passes to Salum and Franky Stola, and kept the Dolphins defense under constant pressure with the Guelfi’s no-huddle pace. Salum was one of the game’s early difference-makers, scoring twice in the first half and adding a two-point conversion, while Stola showed again why he has been one of the league’s most dangerous finishers.

The Guelfi led 14–0 after the first quarter and widened the gap early in the second when Fimiani added another rushing touchdown and then hit Salum for the two-point conversion to make it 21–0.

Ancona briefly answered with the kind of explosive play it needed. Carter Cravens connected with Matteo Dazzani on an 80-yard touchdown pass, and Dazzani’s extra point cut the deficit to 21–7. But Firenze answered immediately, with Fimiani finding Salum again to restore a three-score advantage at 28–7.

Dolphins battle back

The Dolphins’ afternoon became even more difficult late in the first half when Cravens took a heavy hit after releasing a pass near the goal line. He left the game and did not return. Cameron Grodhaus, who had already carried a huge all-purpose role for Ancona during the season, was forced back into emergency quarterback duty.

Grodhaus responded with character. On the next play sequence, he found Blackburn for a short touchdown, bringing Ancona within 35–14. But any thought of a momentum swing vanished almost immediately. Fimiani answered with a strike to Stola, who broke free after the catch and scored to push Firenze’s halftime lead to 41–14.

Closing the door

The third quarter was the one period in which Ancona’s defense managed to keep the Guelfi off the scoreboard. The Dolphins forced stops, recovered a fumble, and continued to battle despite the deficit. Karim Giardinieri and the Ancona defense remained active throughout, repeatedly getting bodies around the ball and refusing to let the game completely unravel.

But the Dolphins could not turn those defensive moments into a real comeback. Grodhaus led a determined fourth-quarter drive and hit Orlandini for a 9-yard touchdown to make it 41–21, but Firenze closed the door with a final scoring drive capped by Cosimo Casati’s rushing touchdown.

The result was never truly in doubt after the first half. Firenze’s opening turnover, Fimiani’s command of the offense, Salum’s early impact and Stola’s finishing ability proved too much for Ancona to overcome. The Dolphins showed resilience, especially after losing Cravens, but the Guelfi again looked like the most complete team in Italy.

Firenze now moves one step away from another national title.

Scoring summary

First quarter

Firenze Guelfi – Eystin Salum 10-yard pass from Andrea Fimiani, Camilli kick good.

Firenze Guelfi – Andrea Fimiani 7-yard run, Camorani kick no good.

Firenze Guelfi 13, Ancona Dolphins 0

Second quarter

Firenze Guelfi – Andrea Fimiani run, Eystin Salum two-point reception good.

Ancona Dolphins – Matteo Dazzani 80-yard pass from Carter Cravens, Dazzani kick good.

Firenze Guelfi – Eystin Salum pass from Andrea Fimiani, Camorani kick good.

Firenze Guelfi – Andrea Fimiani 6-yard run, Camorani kick good.

Ancona Dolphins – Blackburn 3-yard pass from Cameron Grodhaus, Dazzani kick good.

Firenze Guelfi – Franky Stola pass from Andrea Fimiani, kick no good.

Halftime: Firenze Guelfi 41, Ancona Dolphins 14

Third quarter

No scoring.

Firenze Guelfi 41, Ancona Dolphins 14

Fourth quarter

Ancona Dolphins – Orlandini 9-yard pass from Cameron Grodhaus, Dazzani kick good.

Firenze Guelfi – Cosimo Casati 17-yard run, Camorani kick good.

Final: Firenze Guelfi 48, Ancona Dolphins 21