The second and final game of week 5 in the Italian Football League (IFL) will see last year’s National Champions, the Parma Panthers, take on the league’s newcomers, Modena Vipers.
The Panthers were the dominant team last year in the IFL. Their season did not get off to the same explosive start this year however. Their week 2 loss to the Milano Seamen, a team they beat three times last year, was tough. Since then, they have been trying to find their groove.
Part of their problem stems from an inability to finish drives. First-year quarterback Brook Bolles has managed to throw for nearly 200 yards in their last two games but has only three touchdowns; on the ground they have none.
Nick Diaco was borderline unstoppable last year at wildcat putting up unreal numbers. If they hope to challenge the Seamen, and now Firenze Guelfi, towards the end of the season they will need to return to that as their defense has shown it’s not as stingy as last year.
The Modena Vipers have played one game through week 5. Their first opponent was their rivals, the Mastini Verona, who ascended to the IFL with from division 2 along with the Vipers. It was their first loss too. Now, they will be up against, arguably, the second-best team in the league.
Vipers quarterback Danny Vinatski is a long way from Ohio State and the Big Ten. His week 1 performance was mediocre, as he threw for just 116 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Vinatski comes from good stock and will need to show it if the team hopes to serve Parma their second loss of the season.