The 3-2 Firenze Guelfi travel to Bologna, Italy Saturday, May 4 for a critical matchup against the 0-5 Bologna Warriors as Italy’s Div. 1 heads into the home stretch.
Firenze had opened the season with three solid wins over the Parma Panthers (27-17), Lazio Ducks (36-22) and the Torino Giaguari who they knocked off 49-14. But the Guelfi were brought down to earth last month when they lost a last second thriller to the Milano Seamen, 34-28.They dropped another one two weeks ago, losing to the league-leading Bolzano Giants 36-32.
They need to win their last three games to have any chance at all of securing home field advantage in the playoffs.
Firenze boasts the second leading offense in the league averaging 34.4 points a game behind the league’s best running back in Silas Nacita and quarterback Lynx Hawthorne. Nacita is averaging 117.5 yards rushing per game to lead the country while Hawthorne is third with 63.2. Although Hawthorne has only thrown for 814 yards in five games, the Guelfi running attack makes up for it.
Bologna has lost all five games they have played in, 40-20 to the Lazio Ducks,41-6 to Milano , 33-6 to the Bolzano Giants, 18-15 to the Ancona Dolphins and 35-14 to Parma.
In the Warriors five losses quarterback Nicolò “Willo” Scaglia has thrown for a total of 383 yards. However, the addition of running back James Flanders has had an impact as he has averaged 93.8 yards and is the second leading rusher in Italy now. In the loss to Parma, he rushed for 148 yards and both touchdowns.
The rushing duel between the two top running backs in Italy could be worth the price of admission.
Watch the game live here. Firenze Guelfi @Bologna Warriors, Sat. May 4, 9p CEDT (3p EDT)
