The Milano Seamen have secured their first ever victory in the European League of Football (ELF) with a 32–0 beatdown of the Helvetic Guards.
Following defeats in both Week 2 and Week 3, the Seamen were itching for a chance to show the rest of Europe what Italian football is made of, and they did just that in their cross-border trip into Switzerland.
Following a relatively pedestrian start from both sides, Milano kicker Matteo Felli managed to kick a 25-yard field goal through at the beginning of the second quarter. And it was from here that the Seamen began to unload on the Guards, one of the most impactful being a 66-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by linebacker Diego Rinaldi – who also forced the strip sack.
Seamen WR Juan Flores Calderon #81 caught 8 passes for 147 yards and 1 TD. Photo: Cubo Photo
A total of 16 points scored in the second quarter, seven in the third and nine in the fourth all came unanswered as Milano piled it on. Quarterback Luke Zahradka was asked to carry the majority of the load, dropping back 46 times to pass, more than any other quarterback this weekend.
Zahradka’s favorite target on the day was up-and-coming receiver Juan Flores Calderon who is turning plenty of heads already at this point in the season. The two combined for eight receptions, 147 yards and a touchdown. Zahradka finished the game with 316 yards and two touchdowns.
Guards QB Jordan Barlow Photo: CUBO Photo
Little happened on either side of the ball for the Guards. Quarterback Jordan Barlow is now in his second week with the team, and despite 132 yards and zero interceptions, their offense was able to muster little more than a couple of fizzled out drives.
If the Guards hope to have anything but an Istanbul Rams’esque season this year, they will need to make some changes fast. For the Seamen, this may be the first step on their way to turning things around. But unfortunately for them, the Raiders Tirol are waiting for them in Innsbruck in Week 5.