Italy: Varese Skorpions outlast Parma Panthers to stay unbeaten atop the standings

The Varese Scorpions took one more step in their quest at an undisputed Italian Football League championship as their four-game win streak continues after outlasting the defending champion Parma Panthers 38-34 although Parma seemingly had the game in the bag with three minutes left.

With Varese trailing 34-30, quarterback Ryan Griffin staged a late drive and brother Maclaine then punched the ball into the end zone with little time left for the win.

Although the game went to the Scorpions it did not start out well for the Varese squad as they conceded two touchdowns with Griffin tossing interceptions. It would have been easy to think that heads would drop on the Varese bench, but the Scorpions showed they are cut from a different cloth as they still believed they could come away the victors.

The third quarter brought with it a bonanza of scoring, with field goals, a pick six and some touchdowns for good measure bringing the Scorpions back into the game as the fourth quarter came into sight. The Panthers now found themselves trailing for the first time but the lead kept flipping. Varese’s returned a kick off for a touchdown but Parma responded to score and take the lead 34-30 as the clock ticked down.

That’s when the Griffin brothers went to work with younger brother Maclaine finding the end zone for the win.

With time left on the board the Panther had time for a few plays but the Scorpions stopped them and took over the ball as Ryan Griffin took a knee and Varese began celebrating.

In other action in the Italian Football League, the Ancona Dolphins downed the Milano Rhinos 30-21 to also stay undefeated while the Lazio Marines overwhelmed the hapless Bologna Warriors 57-0 and Firenze Guelfi were 26-19 winners over the Legnano Frogs.