Sunday, 26 May, 2019
A busy Sunday to be sure that we'll lead off with the top news story of the day, the 2019 Italian DII American Football Playoff Brackets.
To review the generalities, there are 19 clubs competing in DII this year.
The top 12 teams, regardless of Group, at the end of the season based on FIDAF's Power Rankings make the playoffs.
The top four seeds get Wild Card round byes.
The Wild Card games will be played the weekend of June 8th and 9th.
FIDAF's Final DII Power Rankings
Our Group A wound up with the top two seeds in the playoffs with the 8-0 Milano Rhinos grabbing the top seed and the 7-1 Cernusco Daemons being awarded the #2 seed. Both of these clubs have earned byes in the Wild Card round.
The Rhinos and Daemons are the teams that handed the Skorpions our only two losses of the season.
We lost to the Rhinos in Game #2 by a score of 24-10 and the Daemons beat us 20-14 in overtime in Game #4.
The Brackets in one form . . .
. . . and in another
The playoffs have six teams from Group A and three each from Groups B and C.
The Skorpions (6-2) are the #7 seed and our opening Wild Card round game will be a rematch at home against the #10 seeded Palermo Sharks (3-5).
We narrowly beat the Sharks in a crazy, come from way behind game back in Game #3 by a score of 28-21.
This will be a dangerous opponent for us to be sure.
What a BEAUTIFUL weekend
for American football!
Time again for our weekly update of what happened across Italia in DII American football action.
Their was a full slate of eight games
this weekend, the last weekend
of the 2019 DII regular season
Actually there were nine games this week including the Week #9 make up game last Wednesday night between the Desio Hammers and Canavese Mastifs.
DII WEEK #12
Group A
Group A Week #12 Results
Canavese Mastifs (3-4) 25
Desio Hammers (2-5) 0
Varese Skorpions (6-2) 27
Canavese Mastifs (3-5) 7
Milano Rhinos (8-0) 28
Busto Arsizio Blue Storms (0-8) 0
Desio Hammers (3-5) 12
Palermo Sharks (3-5) 7
Cernusco Daemons (7-1) 32
Varese Gorillas (2-6) 0
Final Group A Standings
1. Milano Rhinos 8-0
2. Cernusco Daemons 7-1
3. Varese Skorpions 6-2
4. Brescia Bengals 4-4
5T. Palermo Sharks 3-5
5T. Canavese Mastifs 3-5
5T. Desio Hammers 3-5
8. Varese Gorillas 2-6
9. Busto Arsizio Blue Storms 0-8
Group A Playoff Schedule
Saturday-Sunday, June 8-9
#10 Palermo Sharks (Group A, 3-5) at
#7 Varese Skorpions (Group A, 6-2)
#9 Ferrara Aquile (Group B, 4-4) at
#8 Brescia Bengals (Group A, 4-4)
#12 Canavese Mastifs (Group A, 3-5) at
#5 Verona Mastini (Group B, 7-1)
Wild Card Byes
#1 Milano Rhinos (8-0)
#2 Cernusco Daemons (7-1)
Season Finished
Desio Hammers (3-5)
Varese Gorillas (2-6)
Busto Arsizio Blue Storms (0-8)
Group B
Group B Week #12 Results
Padova Saints (7-1) 28
Isonzo Sentinels (1-7) 27
Verona Mastini (7-1) 48
Castelfranco Cavaliers (1-7) 12
Final Group B Standings
1T. Verona Mastini 7-1
1T. Padova Saints 7-1
3. Ferrara Aquile 4-4
4T. Castelfranco Cavaliers 1-7
4T. Isonzo Sentinels 1-7
Group B Playoff Schedule
Saturday-Sunday, June 8-9
#12 Canavese Mastifs (Group A, 3-5) at
#5 Verona Mastini (Group B, 7-1)
#11 Sarzana Red Jackets (Group C, 3-5) at
#6 Padova Saints (Group B, 7-1)
#9 Ferrara Aquile (Group B, 4-4) at
#8 Brescia Bengals (Group A, 4-4)
Season Finished
Castelfranco Cavaliers (1-7)
Isonzo Sentinels (1-7)
Group C
Group C Week #12 Results
Reggio Emilia Hogs (7-1) 17
Modena Vipers (1-7) 0
Roma Pretoriani (7-1) 8
Bologna Braves (2-6) 0
Final Group C Standings
1T. Roma Pretoriani 7-1
1T. Reggio Emilia Hogs 7-1
3. Sarzana Red Jackets 3-5
4. Bologna Braves 2-6
5. Modena Vipers 1-7
Group C Playoff Schedule
Saturday-Sunday, June 8-9
#11 Sarzana Red Jackets (Group C, 3-5) at
#6 Padova Saints (Group B, 7-1)
Wild Card Byes
#3 Roma Pretoriani (7-1)
#4 Reggio Emilia Hogs (7-1)
Season Finished
Bologna Braves (2-6)
Modena Vipers (1-7)
LET THE PLAYOFF GAMES BEGIN!
At Skorpions Field today we were combining a Women's National Flag Team practice with a traditional food coma inducing Italian BBQ featuring a pig on a slow roasting spit over an open flame.
It would turn out to be a GREAT day for American football.
On many levels.
Soon after we arrived at the field, a man dressed in official Italian National team gear approached me and said "Ciao."
I did not recognize him.
Then he introduced himself and all hell broke loose.
But in a good way.
Why it was none other than former
Catania Elephants WR Salvo Persano!
I had not seen Salvo in literally a decade when I last coached in Catania in 2009.
He is now involved in an administrative capacity with the Women's National team program.
In order to now look the part of a coach, he sports a shaved head and a graying beard like the rest of us.
It was so great to see him!
The Women's National Team
getting ready to scrimmage
But they needed a ref, so D.J. volunteered . . .
Me.
Never wear Levis on a hot day
when refereeing
As you would expect, these ladies
play at a high level
Not sure about this
ball carrying technique
Two of our Skorpions, Tex and Marta, were competing today mostly on Defense.
Tex in yellow on the right
Interesting follow through
by the QB
Trying to find the Goal Line
There it is!
Again with the funky ball security
I've got my arm raised as I
am the designated pass rusher
on this play
Bunch Formation on Offense
Trail technique pass coverage
The two nearest defenders are
Skorpions Tex and Marta
Hair flying in the corner
of the End Zone
Either signaling Fourth Down
or my solidarity with the
leftist rebels
Good running technique
Flag Tackling Drill
Just another BEAUTIFUL day
for American football!
But, as Enzo is pointing out,
there is still a BBQ to enjoy after
the morning practice
That pig is looking tasty
Grill Masters!
One grill is NEVER enough at a
Skorpions function
Almost done
How many men do you need to
roast a pig in Lombardia?
It looks like four to me should be about right.
The young Skorpions were starting
to get unruly waiting to eat that pig
The pig is coming off the grill!
Start carving
Let the feasting commence!
While we all overate like Americans, we found that the Skorpion snack bar had samples of the latest craze from the Esselunga Supermarkets . . .
Skorpion LB Federico Gomiero
Action Figures doing a form tackle
Flat out AWESOME!
At the end of lunch, before the Ladies went back on the field for another scrimmage, one of them came up to me and started up a conversation.
Then she introduced herself and all hell broke loose.
But in a good way.
Again.
It was none other than
Claudia Guglielmino of the
Catania Pink Elephants!
Again, we had not seen each other in ten years but caught up quickly. Claudia is on my left with three other members of the Pink Elephants on my right.
Football, friends and grilled meats . . .
How much better could a Sunday possibly get?
Well it even got a little better on the way
home when we stopped in Malnate
to watch some Vikings baseball
Once back at the Villa Skorpion II, food coma fully induced, I got on the computer to find even more great pictures taken by our core of Skorpion photographers from yesterday's Mastifs game.
A HUGE GRAZIE to Laurie, Robby, Edvin and Benny for all that they do to enhance the Skorpions experience!
Masch and Tomas on the House
Masch returning a Kickoff
Niko, our best OL, playing some DE
An arm tackle will not stop Dylan
Swito getting the Game Hammer
Our QB and Receiving Core
Riccardo, Mozza, Jack and Martino
Stefano and Swito waiting for
our Offenses next TD pass
QB Jack paying attention in the
post-game huddle
Mizu running the rock
He is a bit smaller than the Mastifs RB.
DT Ceo and DL Coach Pacio
Swarming to the ball
Swito, the proud owner of a
Game Hammer
Lord he is BIG!
Swito helping the refs see that
the Skorpions just made another
First Down!
Stefano and Biondo on the tackle
Raffa is Pad Under Pad
We should have just hog tied him
when we had the chance
Giorgio has been a great boost to
our Defense since coming back
to coach a few weeks ago
They called a face mask penalty
on this play
Biondo with a sure tackle
Monza and Jack celebrating one
of their three TD passes
Nali and Stefano
both look like they could use
a post-game smoke
Masch on his Second Half
tone setting Kickoff Return
OG Capo making a possible TD
saving tackle on an interception
Davide, Raffa, Ceo and Tomas
working their way to the ball
Mozza for SIX!
OK, I think they are going to run the ball
Mora being the Man
The Offensive Line and their QB
Dylan finishing a run violently
"I'VE GOT YOU!"
Swito listening intently to Dani
Freccia going all out on the House
Freccia again being fearless
More of Masch's Kickoff Return
Swito
The Scorpion of the Day
Lower your pads Baffo!
Good leverage by both Raffa and Ceo
Raffa had his best game in the two years I've been with the Skorpions.
Ceo just goes about his work quietly and efficiently every game, he has been a wonderful addition to the Skorpions this year.
Dylan flying along the sidelines
I just love these shots of the
Line-of-Scrimmage!
Great catch for an apparent two points
but an illegal formation penalty
nullified this fine catch
Niko and Nali are the veteran
right side of our Offensive Line
Joy on the sideline as we start
pulling away in the Second Half
Davide on the tackle with
Masch bringing support
Il Nino now in at QB
about to get launched
Jack thinking that it could have
been him getting launched
A fine catch by Martino
Still running to the football late
in the game
Ceo manages a Tattoo Parlor
in Monza when he is not menacing
QBs and RBs
Guard Nali and Center Capo
did lots off good things Saturday
Masch threw his body into the House
several times in the game to bring him
DOWN!
Amici
Another Line-of-Scrimmage photo
Diving, reaching for a First Down
Swito is pad under pad taking
umbrage with something their TE
did or said it appears
Jack making something out of nothing
What an incredible season he is having!
Defensive Pride in a job well done
today against a physical
machine of a team
Same group, different view
It helps to have these ladies on our
side rooting us on to VICTORY!
Laurie and I both
LOVE the Skorpion Life!
