Bologna, 3 July 2022 – I Guelphs Florence signs history, they do so by winning the Italian Bowl 21-17, or the superbowl of American football played in Italy. After the defeat suffered in the 2019 final, the Viola returned to the final chapter of the First Division championship, defeating the Seamen Milano at the Dall’Ara in Bologna. Avenged the knockout three years ago and claimed the title for the first time in their history.

Match exciting, the first offensive drive is by Seamen Milano, who ‘eat’ the field thanks to the races immediately by Zahradka. Pinned over 30 yards by the purple defense, the Seamen, however, had to settle for a three-point field goal scored by Lorenzo Gioco. The Milanese take the lead, but the Guelphs Florence respond promptly: Casati brings the kick off back to the goal with an amazing run from 95 yards, which is valid for the first touchdown of the match. Barbaro transforms and the Guelphs are thus ahead 7-3. A very active Zahradka with racing tries to charge his shoulder, but the first quarter ends with the Guelphs always in the lead. At the start of the second quarter, the Seamens leap forward again: Zahradka with a perfect throw of 52 yards opens the way for Flores Calderon’s touchdown. The sailors make the transformation kick and carry on 7-10. With less 2 minutes to play in the second quarter, Milan tries to widen the gap with a field goal, but this time the foot of the game is not accurate and from 39 yards the Lombard kicker fails to send the ball between the posts. The attack of the Guelphs closes the fourth in crescendo: Tanner and Gerbino start their own business and with their races bring the Guelphs close to the end zone. Opportunity exploited to the fullest by Gerbino, who receives from Fimiani, resists the opponent’s tackles and reaches the touchdown of the counter-pass. Barbaro transforms the additional kick and the Guelphs return ahead at 14-10. The first half ends with the sailors who, with 13 seconds on the clock, are forced to launch. Zahradka is still looking for a partner in depth, but Marcacci intercepts and the viola defense defuses the danger. In the second half, the Guelph attack yard but fails to put points grinder on the board. The Seamen instead go in goal with Zahradka, but a flag cancels the prowess of the Milan quarterback. However, Zahradka himself makes up for it a little later by scoring a new touchdown. Game transforms the additional kick and the Seamens return to the lead (14-17).

In the fourth fourth the Guelphs score after a long offensive drive. Gerbino is the protagonist of a great reception that brings the Guelphs close to the goal area, Tanner completes the job by scoring his first touchdown. The Guelphs, after the kick made by Barbaro, find themselves in the transformation for 21-17. This is the decisive goal, because the Guelphs then resisted throughout the final quarter and took home the victory and the first tricolor title in their history, with Lorenzo Dalle Piagge elected MVP. For the Guelphs it is the greatest joy: winning the championship, a scudetto that was missing in Florence from the 2016-2017 season, when the Fiorentina women’s team won Serie A football.