Seamen & Panthers dominate opponents in semi-finals
Italian Super Bowl XXXIV teams have been decided. The reigning champion Parma Panthers will face the Milano Seamen on Sunday, July 6th at 6 p.m. EST, 12 p.m. EST in Ferrara. This is a rematch of last year’s title match!
PARMA PANTHERS v. BERGAMO LIONS
The Parma Panthers won their fifth consecutive semi-final, punching their ticket to the Italian Super Bowl. The Panthers advance by defeating the Bergamo Lions 55-7 in Parma on Saturday. A great win for the Panthers, who have been dominate in the last decade of American Football in Italy.
The Panthers started quickly with an excellent return by Ghirotti, and and then capped a long, grinding drive with a touchdown when QB Tommaso Monardi found WR Jesse Paulsen in the end-zone. The Lions offense was careless on the ensuing possession and fumbled which was quickly recovered by the defense of Parma. The Panthers second possession ended the same as the first, with Monardi finding Paulsen once again. 14-0 Parma.
Alessandro Malpeli Avalli added a 17 yard touchdown run before the Lions finally drew blood when Marco Podavitte caught a 64 yard pass from QB Andrea Bisiani. 21-7 Panthers. Preventing a potential shift in the game’s momentum, Avalli returned the ensuing kick-off 90 yards, splitting the Lions coverage team down the middle.
Now the Panthers began to roll. Alessandro Fontanella caught a 27 yard touchdown pass from Tommaso Monardi and Jesse Paulsen added a 65 yard punt return for a touchdown before the dust settled and the it was halftime. Panthers 41 Lions 7.
The story in the second half was the same as the first. A solid Parma defense kept Bergamo out of the end-zone while the Panthers padded their lead when Avalli broke loose for 50 yard touchdown run. Michele Piazza added a 13 yard run in the fourth quarter, providing us with the final score of 55-7.
HIGHLIGHTS:
[vsw id=”epbftENhqHc” source=”youtube” width=”620″ height=”360″ autoplay=”no”]MILANO SEAMEN v. BOLZANO GIANTS
The Milano Seamen recorded their tenth consecutive victory in the season, (club record) when they defeated the Bolzano Giants in Stadio Vigorelli in Milan Saturday night. The Seamen dismantled the Giants Bolzano 31-7 in a decisive semi-final playoff match and will advance to the Italian Super Bowl XXXIV on July 6th.
The Seamen jumped out to an early lead, 21-0, and was led by Mattia Binda, who scored two first half touchdowns. With composure and a strong defense, the game ended in Milan’s favor 31-7, and they return to play for the second consecutive IFL (Italian Football League) title match.
