Italian Football League week 2 preview

| American Football | 03/10/2023

This weekend, week 2 in the Italian Football League (IFL) will kick off. Of the three games, another newcomer to Italy’s top division will feature in the Frogs Legnano who were recently promoted from Division 2.

Saturday, March 11

Rhinos Milan @ Mastini Verona

The week 2 opener will be held in the beautiful mountains of Bolzano. Both the Rhinos and Mastini will be looking to improve from last year after both missing out on a playoff spot.

Quarterbacking the Rhinos this year will be Joey Baughman who played his college football at Elon University (NCAA, DI). He will be joined by big-bodied receiver Trey Brock who has experience in multiple NFL and CFL camps following an outstanding career at Hillsdale College (NCAA, DII).

Mastini will be led by quarterback Louis Colosimo who played his college football at Davidson College (NCAA, DI) and defensive back Elliot Jeffcoat who played at Oklahoma State and previously in Finland during its heyday.

Dolphins Ancona @ Frogs Legnano

The familiar face of All American quarterback Collin Di Galbo returns to Ancona this year for his fourth straight season with the Dolphins. His ability as a dual-threat has proven to be highly effective in the league before and won the team some big games. 

Joining Di Galbo will be All-Conference linebacker Vincent Winey who played his college football at Morehead State (NCAA, DI). The 6 ‘1 thumper led Morehead in tackles in his final two years with the program and will surely play a crucial part in stopping the elusive Legnano quarterback.

Colorado Mesa (NCAA, DII) alumnus Eystin Salum led the Vienna Vikings to the Austrian Bowl in the team’s final year participating in the dometic league. His ability to make defenders miss and keep plays alive led to him being one the league’s top performers. He is now taking his trade to Italy with the newly promoted Frogs. 

The second and final American import for the Frogs is defensive back Monquavion Brinson. The 5 ‘10 explosive defender played football at Georgia Southern (NCAA, DI) and was awarded All-Sun Belt First Team honors in 2017, 2018 and 2020.

Salum and Brinson will undoubtedly be two of the most athletic players in the IFL this year, but whether their supporting cast are up to the challenge of a top division team is another question entirely.

Sunday, March 12

Lazio Ducks @ Stainless Steel Warriors Emilia

The only Sunday game will see the Lazio Ducks travel to Bologna to take on the Warriors Emilia who are the amalgamation of the Bologna Warriors and Vipers Modena who both played in Division 1 last year.

Leading the charge for the new IFL franchise will be former SMU quarterback Derek Green, who should provide the domestic players some stability following both the Vipers and Warriors rocky season last year. 

In addition to Green, the team will be bolstered on defense by both IFL veteran and former UCF (NCAA, DI) linebacker Filippo Fort as well as defensive back Dominique Shelton who played his college football at Northwest Missouri State and with the Raiders Tirol in the European League of Football last year.

Daniel Mackenzie is a Press Association graduate who works in journalism and communications in the third sector. Daniel began playing football for the London Warriors and Team Great Britain and has since played across Europe.