The Bergamo Lions (1-2) found the win column for the first time this year after defeating the Torino Giaguari (0-2) 30-21 at home in Bergamo.
The Lions scored 16 straight points in the third quarter to break open a 14-14 halftime tie and then held on in the fourth for the win.
Bergamo quarterback Andrea Fimiani is starting to find his feet, gaining confidence. He threw for 220 yards and a touchdown with Matteo Bonzanni catching two passes for 100 yards and a touchdown and Alex Germany five passes for 47 yards. Germany also rushed for 35 yards and two touchdowns while Cristian Iacona forced a two-point safety. William Testa kicked all four extra points.
For Torino, Mark Wright completed 13 of 25 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns with Michael Wacoubo on the receiving end of six for 80 yards and a touchdown and Jacopo Salso three for 60 yards and another touchdown. Alberto Ghio scored on a five yard run and Jacopo Caprioglio kicked three PATs.
Bergamo struggled to move the ball early in the game until Fimiani found Bonzanni in stride for a 65 yard touchdown with less than a minute left in the first quarter to give the Lions a 7-0 lead.
With a minute gone in the second quarter, Fimiani was picked off giving Torino the ball on Bergamo’s 34 yard line. Five plays later Ghio bulled his way in tying the score.
Two series later, Wright then marched Torino down to the Lions 24 yard line and connected with Salsa for the go ahead touchdown, 14-7.
Taking over at his own 25 yard line, Fimiani mounted a six play, 69 yard drive with Germany capping it with a one yard plunge to even the score again, 14-14.
In the second half, Bergamo’s defense rose up, stopping Wright & co on three consecutive possessions while Fimiani and the offense found a rhythm with Fimiani and Germany both scoring rushing touchdowns. In between, Bergamo also forced a safety and the Lions entered the fourth quarter leading 30-14.
Wright wasn’t finished though as he first hit Adehkeem Brown for a 24 yard gain and then connected with Wacoubo for a 40 yard touchdown with just over three minutes gone in the period and Torino seemed poised to rally.
However, Bergamo used the clock wisely and despite both quarterbacks trading interceptions, the Giaguari could get no closer than Bergamo’s 30 yard line.
The victory marked the first win for the Lions since they beat Torino on May 27 last year and the fourth time Bergamo has beaten the Giaguari in as many attempts since Adam Rita took over as head coach of the Lions.
In other action in Italy’s Div. I, the Firenze Guelfi downed the Lazio Ducks 36-22 for their second straight win, the Milano Seamen beat up on the Ancona Dolphins 29-6 and the Bolzano Giants kept the Parma Panthers winless beating them 20-6.
Check out the game highlights.
