The first round of the Italian playoffs kicks off this weekend with the third place Milano Seamen facing the sixth place Torino Giaguari (Turin Jaguars) in the first wild card game.
In the only game between these two teams earlier this season, Milano won easily, 42-7.
The 8-2 Seamen are coming off three straight wins to end the season including a decisive 37-14 win over the Bolzano Giants. Meanwhile, Torino (5-5) suffered a lopsided 47-0 shutout at the hands of the Parma Panthers in the next to last regular season game. They went on to beat the last place Roma Grizzlies in the final regular season game of the year.
Milano had the second leading offense in Italy in 2017 scoring 347 points in 10 games, while also boasting one of the stingiest defenses giving up only 11.4 points a game.
Milano quarterback Luke Zahradka, who is also Team Italy’s quarterback, finished third in passing yardage in 2017 with 2,154 yards while tossing 23 touchdown passes. Torino’s Andrea Morelli has thrown for 920 yards and 13 touchdowns in the nine games he has started. He had replaced Paul Jordan who suffered a serious knee injury in the very first game.
Torino linebacker Matt Conroy (the only import on the roster) is the fourth leading tackler in Italy with 62.5 tackles and will be put to the test following his return from injury.
This is the fifth straight season that the Seamen have advanced to the playoffs. Milano won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015. This is the Giaguari’s first trip to the playoffs since entering the top Italian league in 2014.
The winner of this game advances to the semifinals where they will face either the Milano Rhinos or Parma Panthers. The second wild card game of the weekend takes place Sunday, June 18 between the Bolzano Giants and Bergamo Lions.
LIVE STREAM: Italy Wild Card – Milano Seamen v. Torino Giaguari (7p CEST, 1p EDT)
