Italy’s Milano Seamen crush Thonon Black Panthers from France

The Milano Seamen, Europe #9,  advanced to the European Football League championship final in crushing the number one team in France, the Thonon Black Panthers 49-3 in front packed stands in Milano in European Football League play.

Seamen defensive back Paul Morant scored a spectacular 85 yard kickoff return touchdown on the opening kickoff to set the tone for the game.

The Seamen exploded for 35 first half touchdowns and then cruised to victory.

Quarterback Luke Zaharadka threw five touchdowns passes, four in the first half with Stefano Di Tunisi catching three and Xavier Mitchell two. Defensive back Flavio Piccinni scored on a fumble return late in the game.

The Black Panthers secondary has no answers for the speed of Milano’s two leading receivers. Time and again, Di Tunisi and Mitchell got in behind the Thonon defensive backs, and when they didn’t score they caused problems.

Following Durant’s kickoff return touchdown, a Milano fumble gave Thonon the ball on the 35 yard line but the Black Panthers only came away with a field goal. Then Zaharadka went to work, connecting with Di Tunisi for two straight touchdowns to extend the lead to 21-3. He turned his attention to Mitchell who scored two more.

The third quarter saw the Seamen ease off but Di Tunisi scored on a 37 yard pass from Zaharadka  as time was running out.

Despite holding a huge advantage in time of possession in the fourth quarter, the Black Panthers could not find the end zone and Piccinni struck for the last touchdown on an 85 yard fumble return.

Defensively, Milano snuffed out virtually every drive mounted by Black Panthers quarterback Kyle Boehm. Running back Stephen Yepmo had no room to run as the Seamen’s front seven controlled the line of scrimmage all game.

The Seamen now await the winner of the Group A final between Germany’s Potsdam Royals and the Calanda Broncos from Switzerland on May 27.