Milano Seamen got an important victory at Barcelona Dragons home, thanks to a last quarter in which the Italians overcame a 12-6 deficit by scoring practically 21 consecutive points.
AN EVEN GAME
The game between Milano Seamen (2-3) and Barcelona Dragons (2-3) faced two teams needed of a win. Framed in the last places of the Central Conference, Italians and Catalans had achieved their only victories against Helvetic Mercenaries, conceding heavy loses against teams in first places (both with an indisputable loss against Tirol) so the game was expected to be exciting.
And the truth is that, from the very beginning, the game could not have been more even, although both teams showed problems moving the chains and were unable to make their offenses work properly. Thus, in the first quarter the offensive drives alternated without success. Dragons tried it running with the veteran running back Toni Monton and the rookie Charly Take from a double TE formation. Seamen answered throwing the ball to Giuliani, Flores and Santagostino or running with Jocques Crawford, who returned to the ELF. But both teams crashed against the linebackers wall: Kevin Khai, Tiberio Calbucci and Zachary Blair in Seamen; Cesare Brugnani, Alex Posito and Jorge Hernández in Dragons.
DEFENCES STAND OUT
Already in the second quarter, the Italian touchdown could only come from a big play. Zach Bronkhorst threw a long pass to his star wide receiver: Juan Flores Calderón, and Dragon’s secondary failed.
After the TD the game proceeded along the same lines. The Catalan front seven stopped Jocques Crawford, but Dragon’s receivers dropping balls forced Levi Lewis himself to run, always under the watchful eye of Seamen linebackers. Despite this, Dragons managed to score in a team effort play, with Charly Take refusing to fall and the entire Dragons OL pushing him to the endzone.
With 6-6 in the scoreboard the game reached half-time with the feeling that defenses dominated on the field.
After the half-time Levi Lewis kept a drive alive by doing the impossible. The North American quarterback ran with his legs and his soul and kept the offense on the field to finally find Imone Donadelle in the endzone. The extra point was missed again.
With one minute left in the third quarter, a three-and-out gave the ball again to Dragons, but Toni Montón fumbled and the ball was returned by Maffi for a TD. Felli did not miss and made it 12-13 for Seamen on the scoreboard.
THE TURNING POINT
After a three and out by Dragons, Seamen took advantage of the momentum and scored after a long drive that consumed four long minutes and ended in a Jacques Crawford touchdown after an improvised screen pass in which the veteran RB flew without anyone being able to push him out of bounds.
Dragons tried again running, without success, and Seamen scored on their next possession through Zack Bronkhorst himself, who took control of the drive and ran completely free for a touchdown.
With 12-27 on the scoreboard and the game completely decided, Dragons would manage to make up the score with a last second touchdown pass to Aaron David to end the game 18-27.
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