Photo: Nicola Maccagnani
The Varese Skorpions had to battle but they finally came out on top in their season opening game at Franco Ossola Stadium this past weekend against the newly-promoted Ferrara Aquile, getting by them 15-12 as the Italian Football League kicked off the 2025 season.
Varese quarterback Hamish McClure tossed two touchdown passes in the win, one to Matteo Rai and the other to Riccardo Crosta.
For Ferrara, quarterback Aaron Allen connected with receiver One Williams for both Eagles touchdowns.
McClure opened the scoring early in the second quarter hitting Rai from 11 yards out to give his team a 7-0 lead.
Allen responded three minutes later hitting Williams in stride down the sideline for a 43 yard score. The PAT was unsuccesful leaving the score 7-6 for the Skorpions.
Photo: Nicola Maccagnani
Ferrara took the lead on the second play of the third quarter as Allen hit Williams again, this time for a 77 yard strike. The PAT was again unsuccessful and the Eagles went out in front 12-7.
However the Skorpions defense rose up as linebacker Zach Marcheselli picked off Allen at the Varese 25 yard line. McClure then marched his team down to the Ferrara three yard line and hit tight end Riccardo Crosta in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt was successful and the Skorpions took a 15-12 lead with two minutes left in the third.
Photo: Nicola Maccagnani
Both defenses stiffened in the last period although the Aquile came close. Allen hit Williams for a 60 yard gain with under two minutes to go. Two plays later, with the ball on the Skorpions 12 yard line, an errant snap sailed over the head of Allen who scooped up the ball and tossed it out of bounds. It was ruled intentional grounding and the loss of yards and penalty pushed the ball back out to the 33 yard line with 25 seconds on the clock. Allen was sacked again to effectively end the game.
In other action, the defending champion Parma Panthers defeated the Bergamo Lions 35-10, the Firenze Guelfi pounded the Savona Pirates 49-0, the Legnano Frogs got by the Ancona Dolphins 20-14, the Milano Rhinos blanked the Bologna Warriors 38-0 and the Torino Giaguari whipped the Lazio Marines 48-14.
