Italy: Ferrara Aquile stun Torino Giaguari 26-20 in overtime thriller

The Ferrara Aquile (3-4) kept their playoff hopes alive with a dramatic 26-20 overtime victory over the Torino Giaguari (4-3) in the Italian Football League, electrifying a packed Mike Wyatt Field on Sunday.

Nightmare first half, dream second half
The Giaguari dominated early, with QB Daniele Lewandowski threading touchdown passes to WR Simone La Rocca and TE Lorenzo Tenconi for a 13-0 halftime lead. The Aquile sputtered offensively, hampered by a costly interception.

Ferrara’s resurgence began in the third quarter as RB Matteo Franco powered in a 4-yard TD, cutting the deficit to 13-7. Lewandowski’s 1-yard scramble extended Torino’s lead to 20-7 in the fourth, but QB Nathan Allen (2 TDs) rallied the Aquile, finding WR Luca Medini on a 12-yard strike and hitting WR Federico Pasquotto for a last-minute 18-yard TD. A missed PAT sent the game to overtime tied 20-20.

The hero of overtime: Antolini
In OT, safety Alessio Antolini sealed the win, intercepting Lewandowski’s pass and returning it 45 yards for a walk-off touchdown. The pick-six ignited a frenzied celebration as the Aquile clinched their season’s most pivotal victory.

A victory of character
“This team showed heart when it mattered,” said Ferrara HC Roberto Bianchi. LB Marco Bottoni (14 tackles, 2 sacks) anchored a defense that blanked Torino in the second half and OT. Despite the rally, Ferrara’s special teams miscues — including botched kicks and coverage lapses — nearly proved costly.

The Giaguari, meanwhile, collapsed after a dominant start, with Lewandowski’s late interception overshadowing his 3-TD performance. The Aquile’s balanced attack (178 rush yards, 215 pass yards) and clutch defense cemented their status as playoff contenders, while Torino’s fourth-quarter meltdown raises questions about their postseason grit.

Source: Italian Football League