After five weeks of play the individual passing and receiving leaders in the Italian Football League both play for a team which is still without a win while the rushing leader plays for a team with a losing record. And the quarterback of the famed Pistol offense is not among the top 5 passers but is a leading rusher. And one quarterback is among the top five passers and rushers. The leaders in passing, receiving and rushing after five weeks of play in Italy definitely make for interesting reading.
Passing
Firenze Guelfi quarterback Eddie Printz continues to lead the league by with his 1,307 yards and 13 touchdown passes despite the fact his team is winless. The Guelfi, are seventh in scoring in the league. Dustin Willingham on the other hand, has his undefeated Bolzano Giants atop the Italian standings with his outstanding offensive play. His 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns are a key reason for the Giants success. The Milano Seamen’s Luke Zahradka is not far behind and leads the top offense in Italy with 178 points in five games behind his 1,208 yards passing. Ancona’s Ryan Kasdorf remains in fourth with his 932 yards Tommaso Monardi from the Parma Panthers has edged into fifth with 695 yards passing and 10 touchdowns.
Receiving
Firenze Guelfi wide receiver Michael Vanucci still leads the country with 565 yards in receiving which accounts for almost half of quarterback Eddie Printz’s totals.It is no surprise that the second leading receiver is Marco Bonacci of the Bolzano Giants who caught 182 yards in receptions in the Giants 50-13 blowout win over the Guelfi. Reece Horn from the Seamen has dropped to third with 378 yards while the Giants Mark Simone has climbed up to fifth with 284 yards n receptions.
Rushing
Torino Giaguari’s running back Louis Cotrone tops the league in Italy with 524 yards in five games although he struggled in Torino’s 42-7 loss to the Milano Rhinos. Rhino quarterback TJ Pryor remains in second but added 93 yards rushing in the win over Torino. The Rhinos are a solid 4-0 and with Pryor behind center have a very balanced attack. The Bergamo Lions improved play of late is due in part to the versatility of quarterback Giorgio Bryant who has moved up to third in rushing with 303 yards. The Parma Panthers Alessandro Malpeli Avalli is now in fourth with 264 yards rushing as Parma continues its fine play. The fifth leading rusher in Italy is another quarterback, Ryan Kasdorf of the Ancona Dolphins is the only quarterback among the top five in both passing and rushing and continues to impress as his team battles for a playoff spot.