Italy’s Bolzano Giants look to keep pace with the league-leading Milano Rhinos when they host the Lazio Marines from Rome in a key matchup for both teams Sunday, April 30.
The Giants suffered their first loss of the season last week when they fell 20-14 to the Rhinos in a hard-fought game in Bolzano. Lazio lost to the Parma Panthers despite holding a 12-10 halftime lead. The loss, Lazio’s third straight after opening the season with two consecutive wins, dropped the Marines to 2-3 and seventh place in the standings.
Giants quarterback Dustin Willingham is having a banner year and leads the league in touchdown passes with 17 to go along with his 1,423 yards passing. His teammate Marco Bonacci is the second leading receiver in Italy with 563 yards and eight touchdowns.
Lazio’s quarterback is Mic Brown, winner of the Finnish title in 2016 with the Helsinki Roosters under the guidance of head coach Juha Hakala, current coach of the Marines. Apart from one game against the Milano Seamen, the Marines offense has proven it can score.
Bolzano has the second best defense in the Italian league having allowed only 56 points in five games, or 10.1 points per game.
Lazio will be in tough. The Giants would like to avenge the home loss to the Rhinos last week which is no doubt fresh in their minds. But as badly as Bolzano needs a win to stay close to the three teams ahead of them in the standings, the Marines need this one more just to make the playoffs.
Kickoff: Sunday April 30 3 pm CET (9 am EDT)
