Saturday, 26 May, 2018
Tonight's game was the 2018 DII regular season finale for two squads that were both headed to the playoffs.
Let's take a look at the two club's records to date . . .
VARESE SKORPIONS
5 Wins - 3 Losses
Second Place Group C
#7 ranked in DII
Schedule
21 Varese Gorillas (0-7) - 12
0 Busto Arsizio Blue Storms (7-0) - 16
25 Sant'Agata Knights (1-6) - 18
16 Sarzana Red Jackets (2-5) - 44
34 Cagliari Crusaders (1-6) - 14
28 Varese Gorillas (0-7) - 7
28 Cagliari Crusaders (1-6) - 0
May 26 at Busto Arsizio Blue Storms (7-0)
BUSTO ARSIZIO BLUE STORMS
7 Wins - 0 Losses
Group C Champions
#3 ranked in DII
Schedule
16 Varese Skorpions (5-2) - 0
31 Cagliari Crusaders (1-6) - 6
9 Palermo Sharks (3-4) - 7
20 Isonzo Sentinels (0-7) - 9
40 Varese Gorillas (0-7) - 6
31 Cagliari Crusaders (1-6) - 2
3o Varese Gorillas (0-7) - 14
May 26 vs. Varese Skorpions (5-2)
We knew that this would be a tough game against a confident, physical opponent. We would have to play a solid game with lots of courage to win tonight.
Warm-ups . . .
. . . senza pads
FIRE UP!
Tackling Practice
DL Coach Pacio was animated
Leave it ALL on the
field tonight Skorpions!
Taking the field
Careful with that Hammer
Captains Out
First Quarter:
Skorpions Ball: We made a first down but had to punt.
Blue Storms Ball: A solid drive ended with a 6 yard TD run and a perfect PAT kick, Blue Storm leads 7-0.
Skorpions Ball: Three and Out, Punt.
Blue Storms Ball: Another physical drive capped by a 20 yard TD run and another good PAT made it 14-0 Blue Storms. Things were not looking good.
Skorpions Ball: The men from Varese were driving as the First Quarter came to an end with Busto Arsizio in control 14-0.
Alessandro Brovelli ran well early
Our defense was being
severely challenged
Second Quarter:
Varese Ball: Our drive that featured great catches by Martino Piazzi, had started in the First Quarter and ended with an interception on third and goal at the eight yard line.
Busto Arsizio Ball: Three and Out, Punt. WAY TO GO DEFENSE!
Varese Ball: A big play got us back in the hunt. QB Omar Passera hit WR Martino Piazzi on a 41 yard TD bomb but our PAT attempt was partially blocked. The score was now Blue Storms 14 - Skorpions 6.
Busto Arsizio Ball: Three and Out, Punt.
Varese Ball: A long third down pass was intercepted deep in the Blue Storms' end of the field. It was as good as a punt.
Busto Arsizio Ball: Another patented physical, time consuming drive by the home team concluded with a ten yard TD run and a successful PAT. It was now 21-6 in favor of the Blue Storms.
Varese Ball: A good two minute game performance with really less than a minute left in the Half ended at the Busto Arsizio 15 yard line as time ran out.
At the Half Time intermission it was 21-6 Blue Storms but our boys were neither panicked nor distraught.
DB Coach Pye Aimetti with our Defense
One of Martino Piazzi's many
grabs tonight
Third Quarter:
Blue Storms Ball: Three and Out, Punt.
Skorpions Ball: The Passera to Piazzi connection hit on another TD bomb, this time from 50 yards out. Stefano Granelli's PAT was perfect and the Skorpions had closed the gap to 21-13 in favor of the Blue Storms.
Blue Storms Ball: As befits a championship team, the Blue Storms put together a good drive in response to our score that ended with an 18 yard TD pass. The PAT was good to make the score Blue Storms 28 - Skorpions 13.
Skorpions Ball: We were driving as the Third Quarter ended with the Blue Storms in command 28-13.
QB Omar Passera is a winner and
a fighter with great leadership qualities
Busto Arsizio has an
excellent Offensive Line
Fourth Quarter:
Varese Ball: Our drive that continued from the Third Quarter apparently stalled calling for a punt. NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND! Personal Protector Giacomo "Jack" Micheli read the Blue Storms Punt Block scheme perfectly, called an audible and hit Slotback Nicolas Principe for a spark infusing 20 yard first down. Then the Passera to Piazzi combination scored another passing TD from 20 yards out. Granelli's PAT kick was true and the battling Skorpions now trailed 28-20.
Busto Arsizio Ball: Pounding the ball and using their size advantage to the utmost, the Blue Storms' physical drive ended with a four yard TD run and a good PAT kick, Blue Storms 35 - Skorpions 20.
Varese Ball: A potential 20 yard gain was aborted by a Blue Storms defender stripping the ball and recovering the fumble.
Busto Arsizio Ball: To emphasize their physical style, a five yard QB Sneak TD ended this drive. The PAT was again good and it was now 42-20 in favor of the Blue Storms. Would the Skorpions roll over and die?
Varese Ball: Most emphatically, NO! It was Passera to Piazzi time again for their fourth TD connection of the night! This one was from ten yards out. Pietro Limido was good on his first PAT attempt of the season. It was now Busto Arsizio 42 - Varese 27.
Busto Arsizio Ball: Our last ditch onside kick attempt failed and the Blue Storms ran out the clock.
It was a physical . . .
. . . PHYSICAl game tonight
THE FINAL SCORE
Martino Piazzi was the easy
choice for the Game Hammer
The bottom line is that the Blue Storms were just the better team tonight.
I was proud of our club's never say die attitude throughout the contest.
Our offense in particular really played well in putting up 27 points on a Busto Arsizio defense that had only allowed 44 points total all season in their seven games coming into tonight's contest.
On Monday we will find out who, when and where we will play our Wild Card playoff game the weekend of June 9-10.
Again, great effort Skorpions . . .
"With Your Shields or ON THEM!"
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