LIVESTREAM Italy: Lazio Marines @ Firenze Guelfi, March 17, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 10 am EDT)

AFI | American Football | 03/17/2024

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Firenze Guelfi (1-1) travel to Rome today to take on the Lazio Marines (0-2) in the final matchup of the third weekend of play in the Italian Football League.

Lazio are coming off a 28-7 loss to the Varese Skorpions after dropping a 27-16 decision to the Milano Rhinos in their season opener. The Guelfi, 2023 finalists, were surprised by the Skorpions on the opening day of play, losing 7-0 but rebounded with a 55-0 rout of the Bologna Warriors last week.

Marines’ quarterback Austin Albericci (Rutgers University, NCAA Div. 1) who led the league in passing in 2023, has thrown for 289 yards in the two games and just one touchdown. In the loss to Varese, he managed just 102 yards passing. He will need a bigger day against a Firenze defense that is allowing a mere 61.5 yards pass per game.

Firenze enter the game with Italian signal caller Andrea Fimiani at quarterback. Although his passing stats are low (99 yards in two games) as usual he more than made up for it with 208 yards rushing. Against a Lazio defense that is allowing 277 yards of offense per game, Fimiani could be the difference maker.