Team Italy crushes Switzerland in Alps Bowl III

Team Italy showed no mercy Sunday at the KPRO Stadium Arcoveggio in Bologna, Italy, demolishing the Swiss national team 43-8 in Alps Bowl III.

The last time these two teams met two years ago, Team Switzerland edged Italy 12-9.

Italy rolled out to a 29-0 halftime lead and then cruised to an easy win.

The two quarterbacks for Italy, Luke Zahradka and Tommaso Monardi, rotating throughout the game, threw six touchdown passes, with Zahradka tossing four and Monardi two. Wide receiver Giacomo Bonanno hauled in two, one each from both quarterbacks,  and Ismail Lanamra also caught two, both from Zahradka. Simone Allinovi caught a touchdown pass from Monardi and Gregorio Barbagallo caught one from Zahradka. Matteo Felli kicked four extra points while Stefano Di Tunisi kicked one. The Italian defense forced a Swiss safety to account for the rest of the scoring for Italy.

Team Switzerland running back Antoine Brandt scored a touchdown while the Swiss defense forced a safety as well.

With Team Italy head coach Davide Giuliano employing a two quarterback system, it was difficult for the Swiss defense to adjust. Zahradka started and shocked Switzerland connecting with a quick opening touchdown pass to Barbagallo.  Two possessions later, with Monardi behind center, Italy scores again with Bonanno catching his first of two touchdowns and the first quarter ended 14-0 in Italy’s favor.

Zahradka returned to the field in the second quarter and throws another touchdown pass, this time to Bonanno to extend the lead to 20-0. Then, with Switzerland’s offense struggling, Italy forces a safety for a 22-0 lead. With less than three minutes left in the first half, Monardi took over and promptly tossed a touchdown pass to Allivoni and Italy went into the break leading 29-0.

The Swiss defense stiffened in the third quarter, backing Italy up on their own 10 yard line and forcing Zahradka to concede a safety reducing the lead to 29-2. Then the Swiss offense began clicking with the ground game leading the way. Brandt scored on the next drive and Switzerland edged closer, 29-8.

However, Zahradka came out blazing on the next series, hitting Lamamra with two spectacular passes, the second one for a touchdown and Italy now led 36-8 going into the fourth quarter.

As Italy backed off, Switzerland still could not find the end zone again and with seven minutes left, Zahradka connected with Lamamra again. Team Switzerland could not move the ball past midfield and the game ended 43-8 giving Italy the most decisive win in the brief history of the Alps Bowl.