In the only game scheduled in Italy over the Easter weekend in Italy, the 3-1 Firenze Guelfi head to Bolzano to take on the unbeaten Bolzano Giants (4-0) in one of the highlight games of the week in Europe.
Bolzano has opened the season in Italy with four straight wins. First the Giants came out 41-7 winners over the Torino Giaguari and then defeated Bergamo 28-24 and the Parma Panthers 20-6. Two weeks ago, the Giants disposed of the Bologna Warriors 33-6.
The Giants are third in Italy in offense producing 311 yards per game, and second in defense allowing just 204. Firenze has the top rated offense in both scoring (35 pts/game) and yardage (389). However, they are face the league’s toughest defense. The Giants have allowed just 10.8 points a game.
Giants QB, Austin Gahafer Giants is averaging 208.5 yards passing a game, second best in Italy while his favorite target, Mark Simone is the runaway receiving leader averaging 106 yards per game, almost double that of the second leading receiver.
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 week when they lost a last second thriller to the Milano Seamen, 34-28.
Firenze boasts the top scoring offense in the league averaging 35 points a game behind the league’s best running back in Silas Nacita and quarterback Lynx Hawthorne. Nacita is averaging 114.5 yards rushing per game to lead the country while Hawthorne is fourth with 71. Although Hawthorne has only thrown for 574 yards in four games, the Guelfi running attack makes up for it.
This game promises to be another thriller.
Watch the game live here. Firenze Guelfi @Bolzano Giants, Sat. April 20, 3p CEDT (9a EDT)
