The Milano Seamen clinched the last berth in the IFAF Champions League Final Four on Sunday easily dispatching Hungary’s Budapest Wolves 43-6 in Milan, Italy.
The Seamen will join the Wroclaw Panthers from Poland, Austria’s Danube Dragons and the Koc Rams from Turkey. This marks the first time in the young history of the tournament that no previous semi-finalist will compete in the Final Four.
This is Milano’s second Champions League tournament. In 2015, they lost in the group stage to France’s Thonon Black Panthers.
Quarterback Garrett Safron threw two touchdown passes in the pouring rain to Filippo Fiammenghi and Lorenzo Vezzoli. Vezzoli added a 55 yard touchdown run and kicked four PATs, running back David Guthrie scored two touchdowns and Danilo Bonaparte added a 20 yard touchdown in the win.
Budapest defensive back Robert Oates scooped up a fumble in the fourth quarter and took it all the way back for a 60 yard touchdown to account for the Wolves lone score.
Milano took charge early scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter adding three in the second for a 35-0 halftime lead.
As the rain steadily increased Budapest’s big play opportunities vanished with little chance to score through the air. Milano’s ground game proved unstoppable for the visitors from Hungary.