Canada dominates in win over Italy
Team Canada scored in all three phases of the game and employed some trickery in a convincing 56-0 win over an experimental Italian team.
The Canadians scored passing, rushing and on a double pass play on offense, with an interception returned for a touchdown on defense, and through special teams with a blocked punt recovered for a score.
Italy head coach Brian Michitti introduced new faces to the Italian roster to cast an eye over potential players for when Italy joins Austria, Finland and Germany in the European men’s tackle Final Four tournament in Dusseldorf in October.
Canada was clinical on offense and took the lead when quarterback Michael O’Connor found Javonni Cunningham for a 23-yard touchdown and Michael Domagala tagged on the first of eight successful extra points on his perfect afternoon.
Chris Merchant then lined up under center and pitched a lateral pass to Dallas Dixon on Canada’s next drive and as the Italian secondary bit, Dixon was able to loop a pass deep into the end zone for tight end Hayden Amis to double the visitors’ advantage.
Linebacker Max Nixon produced a pick-six of Alessandro Zerbo on Italy’s first play in response and Canada led 21-0. A 19-yard burst up the middle by Ryth-Jean Giraud opened a 28-0 lead then Merchant found diving receiver Trivel Pinto in the end zone for Canada to hold a 35-point advantage at halftime.
After the break the Canadian defense again stepped up as Kevin Victome produced an interception, which led to Jamel Lyles racing three yards off tackle for a touchdown.
O’Connor tossed a fourth quarter scoring pass for Amis snag his second touchdown reception and make it 49-0. Then Canada’s versatile repertoire created another way to score when Nixon blocked and recovered a punt that he returned a short distance to the end zone to score his second six points of the game.
