Italy: Fourth-quarter execution sends Ancona Dolphins into semifinals

The Ancona Dolphins survived the kind of playoff game that can swing three or four times before finally revealing the better team.

In front of their home crowd at Nelson Mandela Stadium, the Dolphins beat the Legnano Frogs 45-31 in a wild card game that had far more tension than the final margin suggests. Legnano repeatedly fought back after falling behind, but Ancona’s fourth-quarter execution — and one critical defensive takeaway — finally pushed the Dolphins into the semifinals and a rematch of last year’s Italian Bowl against the Firenze Guelfi.

The return of quarterback Carter Cravens changed the shape of Ancona’s offense. With Cravens back directing the attack, Cameren Grodhaus could return to a more natural playmaking role, and the Dolphins looked dangerous from the start.

Cravens opened the scoring with a rushing touchdown and Matteo Dazzani added the extra point. In the second quarter, Cravens found Giovanni Zani for another touchdown to stretch the Dolphins’ lead. Legnano answered through Joshua Taylor, who connected with Luke Caliendo, but the missed conversion kept the Frogs chasing.

Raffaele Rotelli’s touchdown run restored Ancona’s cushion, only for Taylor to keep Legnano alive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Niccolò Pulsinelli before halftime. The Dolphins led 21-12 at the break, but the Frogs had shown they were not going away.

Frogs fight back in the third quarter

The third quarter turned the game into a true playoff fight. Taylor found Caliendo again and, although the two-point attempt failed, the Frogs had momentum. Cravens responded by finding Grodhaus for a touchdown, but Andrea Posté’s rushing score and Tenerini’s kick cut the Dolphins’ lead to 28-25.

That was as close as Legnano would get.

Ancona closes the door

Early in the fourth quarter, Grodhaus caught a five-yard touchdown from Cravens to make it 35-25. Then came the game’s defining defensive play: Marco De Jesus intercepted the Frogs, giving Ancona the possession it needed to finally create separation. Cravens took advantage, hitting Zani for his second touchdown of the night and a 42-25 lead.

Legnano still refused to fold. Taylor connected with Matteo Mozzanica for a fourth-quarter touchdown, though the two-point conversion failed. Dazzani then added a field goal for the Dolphins, and a late Ancona recovery after a Frogs fumble with 35 seconds left finally ended the threat.

The Dolphins advance because they had just enough of everything: Cravens’ control, Grodhaus’ versatility, Zani’s finishing, Dazzani’s reliability and a defense that delivered the decisive stop when the game was still alive. The Frogs exit after a brave fight, but Ancona was the team that handled the biggest fourth-quarter moments.

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

Dolphins – Carter Cravens rushing touchdown; Matteo Dazzani kick good. Dolphins 7, Frogs 0

2nd Quarter

Dolphins – Giovanni Zani pass from Carter Cravens; Dazzani kick good. Dolphins 14, Frogs 0

Frogs – Luke Caliendo pass from Joshua Taylor; conversion no good. Dolphins 14, Frogs 6

Dolphins – Raffaele Rotelli run; Dazzani kick good. Dolphins 21, Frogs 6

Frogs – Niccolò Pulsinelli 10-yard pass from Joshua Taylor; kick no good. Dolphins 21, Frogs 12

3rd Quarter

Frogs – Luke Caliendo pass from Joshua Taylor; two-point conversion no good. Dolphins 21, Frogs 18

Dolphins – Cameren Grodhaus pass from Carter Cravens; Dazzani kick good. Dolphins 28, Frogs 18

Frogs – Andrea Posté run; Tenerini kick good. Dolphins 28, Frogs 25

4th Quarter

Dolphins – Cameren Grodhaus 5-yard pass from Carter Cravens; Dazzani kick good. Dolphins 35, Frogs 25

Dolphins – Giovanni Zani pass from Carter Cravens; Dazzani kick good. Dolphins 42, Frogs 25

Frogs – Matteo Mozzanica pass from Joshua Taylor; two-point conversion no good. Dolphins 42, Frogs 31

Dolphins – Matteo Dazzani field goal. Dolphins 45, Frogs 31

Final: Ancona Dolphins 45, Legnano Frogs 31