Eagles – Reapers Torino 28 -0
(14-0)(0-0)(0-0)(14-0)
The Ferrara Eagles snatched their ticket to the semi-final of the IFL 2 championship at the end of a match against the Torino Reapers which had never been in question and which saw the Este team prevail 28 to 0 with an attack which, despite being in difficulty due to absences, able to show off several excellent performances and a defense that played almost perfectly, leaving their opponents with zero points for the first time in the championship. Full throttle start for the Eagles who respond to the guests’ kickoff with a perfect return from Cerullo who reaches the Turin end zone with runningback Cappellini who after two plays scores on a run for the 6 to 0 to which Romagnoli adds the additional point of 7 to 0. The Reapers’ attack does not move the ball and is forced to punt as are the Eagles in the following drive but on the new Turin attack it is Bindini who intercepts the oval on the 36 yards of the Reapers and then a good throw Franco’s run and a foul by the guests bring the Este offense back into the Reapers’ red zone. Scaglia’s pass arrives slightly out of range but the Reapers’ attempted interception leaves the ball alive in the air and it is the Este receiver Gardinale who takes advantage of it by recovering the oval and scoring for 13 to 0 to which Romagnoli promptly adds the kick of transformation. The Reapers try again at the end of the first quarter but a good intervention by the Este defense first with Neodo and then with Mazzoni extinguishes any ambitions of the guests, forcing them to punt again. In the 2nd quarter they miss a precious opportunity to put the Eagles ahead, with Gardinale and Capitozzo unable to hold the ball in the end zone and with Romagnoli who misses the next field goal attempt and without further shocks we go to halftime on 14 to 0. Not a reassuring score but even in the second half the Repaers failed to worry coach Gordon’s defense with Cerullo first intercepting the oval and then Motta covering a Turin fumble while on the other side the Este attack stalled which gives an interception to the guests. We enter the last half of the game and the Eagles are intercepted again by the Reapers defense who then go on attack, with a nice trick play they get close to the Este end zone with the opportunity to score and reopen the game in the final . But Bindini was not caught unprepared on an attempted pass and intercepted the ball and put the Este attack back on the field with Scaglia who didn’t wait to be asked and served Capitozzo for 21-0 after Romagnoli’s conversion kick. The gap has become unbridgeable for the guests who also try to get under them again but it is the Este defense that closes in style with Neodo who intercepts the ball thrown by the guest quarterback and brings the oval directly back into the end zone for the round 28 to 0 which closes the meeting. Celebration on the pitch for the Eagles at the final whistle with the Este team reaching the semi-final for the 2nd consecutive year, expected by the Brescia Bengals next weekend in an away match that will qualify for the final in July. On the other side of the scoreboard, the Modena Vipers prevailed over the Padova Saints 16 to 14 at the end of a very tight match and in the semi-final they will face the Savona Pirates to decide who will be the second finalist of the championship.
