The Milano Seamen (5-1) unleashed all of their offensive firepower this past weekend in Milan, Italy handing the Lazio Ducks (4-2) a humiliating 51-0 pounding in Italy’s Div. 1.
The Seamen exploded for 38 points in the first half and then cruised in the second half for the win.
Milano quarterback Luke Zahradka threw five touchdown passes, three of them to wide receiver Stefano di Tunisi who inflicted much of the damage in the first half. Receivers Ismail Lamamra and Xavier Mitchell scored one each while Pietro Stillitano scored on an 11 yard run and burly, 280 lb WR Antonio Raffaele bulled his way into the end zone for his second touchdown of the season and the game’s final major.
This was a game that Lazio head coach Davide Giuliano would simply like to forget and move past. Nothing worked as fumbles and miscues were the order of the day for the Ducks.
Milano WR Stefano Di Tunisi scored 3 TDs Photo: Dario Fumagalli
The Seamen’s offense started off slowly and only managed a field goal on the game’s first drive. But once the early-game jitters disappeared, the offense was unstoppable. Lamara ignited the touchdown bonanza, finding a gap in the zone up the middle and hauling in a Zahradka pass and outracing three defensive backs 55 yards to pull Milano ahead 10-0. Then, on the second play of the second quarter, Di Tunisi caught a three yard pass in the end zone to give Milano a 17-0 lead.
He was not done yet.
Two minutes later, Zahradka found Di Tunisi again, this time on a 75 yard bomb and the Seamen were sailing racing out in front 24-0 with 10 minutes still left of the first half. With the Milano defense putting Lazio quarterback Tyler Johnson under all kinds of pressure, Milano’s offense got the ball back and at the six minute mark, Stillitano scored from 11 yards out on a sweep to extend the lead to 31-0.
This just was not the Duck’s day. Nothing worked while everything was clicking for the Seamen. With all kinds of time, Zahradka connected with Di Tunisi again, this time for a 57 yard touchdown strike, the final 20 yards of which he just jogged, he was so wide open.
Milano RB Pietro Stillitano Photo Dario Fumagalli
The 38-0 halftime score was indicative of the Seamen’s superiority in this game.
Xavier Mitchell, who had been quiet all game, caught a 53 yard touchdown pass from Zahradka and then early in the fourth, with the ball on the Lazio one yard line thanks to a Mitchell 40 yard pass reception, . Raffele rumbled in for set the final score, 51-0.
With two games left in the season, and one of those games against the league leaders, the Bolzano Giants, the Seamen have a shot at first place still and home field advantage in the Italian semifinals.