The Milano Rhinos opened their European Football League campaign in style defeating France’s Nice Dauphins 28-21 in the first leg of a two game home and away series at home in Milano, Italy.
The Rhinos took a 14-0 halftime lead and extended it to 28-7 in the third quarter before Nice mounted a furious comeback.
Rhinos quarterback TJ Pryor threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third while running back Giacomo Querzola also ran one in. Wide receivers Pietro Elmi and Gabriele Arioli each caught a touchdown pass.
Photo: Mara Telandro
Dauphins running back Rondell White was at times unstoppable, particularly in the second half as he almost single handedly brought Nice back after falling behind 28-7 in the fourth quarter. He scored two second half touchdowns and threw to receiver James Andrew for the third.
The Rhinos seemed to have the game in control for three quarters keeping White in check playing solid defense. But the leading rusher in France in 2016 cannot be bottled up for an entire game and broke loose in the fourth quarter almost bringing the Dauphins all the way back.
EFL Schedule
The two teams meet again in the return leg of EFL Group A play at the Stade de Rugby des Arboras in Nice, France on May 6. EFL Group B kicks off on April 22 when France’s Thonon Black Panthers will host the Prague Black Panthers from the Czech Republic.
The third team in Group B, the Berlin Adler from Germany, will host Thonon on May 6. The Prague Black Panthers and Berlin Adler wind up the EFL schedule in Prague on May 21.
