IFL - Italian Bowl Weekend Recap

The Italian Bowl Weekend took place in Ferrara on July 4–5, 2026, with all three FIDAF senior football finals held at the same venue: the Paolo Mazza Stadium.

Saturday saw action from the IFL2 and the IFL, while Sunday’s stage belonged to the Nine Football League - the third division of Italian football.

Who won the three titles? Who were the standout players? What tone will the sport set for the coming year?

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2026 Italian Bowl – Guelfi Firenze vs. Panthers Parma: Guelfi’s streak continues in Ferrara

The two best teams in the Italian Football League face off in Ferrara with a clear objective: bringing home the Gionni Colombo Trophy.

Guelfi were aiming for their second consecutive perfect season and the third title in their history, while Parma—having beaten the Tuscan side in their last two final matchups—seeked its eighth title.

Both Florence and Parma began their journey to the final in the semifinals as the No. 1 seed (8–0) and No. 2 seed (6–2), respectively, defeating Dolphins Ancona (48–21) and Giaguari Torino (42–35).

At 9:00 PM Italian time, Florence wins the coin toss and—in a rare move—decides to give the opening possession to their opponents. Cosimo Camilli kicks off, signaling the start of the 45th First Division final.

Parma’s opening drive is a long one, consuming half of the first quarter. Knowing that a team like Florence leaves little margin for error, the Panthers opt to go for it on fourth down; they successfully convert twice—once via a Matteo Ghelfi reception at the opponent's 40-yard line following a fake punt, and again thanks to a pass interference penalty called against the defense.

The drive concludes with the night's first touchdown: a 10-yard run by Paul Wilfried Titi Mpoko puts the Emilian team on the board, and young Filippo Neri splits the uprights to give the black-and-silver squad a 7–0 lead.

Guelfi’s response is immediate. On the first play of the drive, Andrea Fimiani loses five yards on a fumble—which he himself recovers—but he redeems himself with two passes of around thirty yards to Giacomo Mibelli and Frankie Stola. These plays set up a rushing touchdown for the quarterback, who needs just one yard to reach the end zone. Francesco Camorani ties the game with the extra point.

A 40-yard reception by Ghelfi moves Parma back into enemy territory, but the defense then takes center stage: first with a dropped interception, and then by nearly sacking the quarterback on a 4th-and-2 play, forcing Roman Fuller to throw the ball away to avoid losing further yardage.

The first quarter ends with a couple of key moments. The first is a 39-yard play connecting Fimiani and Stola; the Parma defense forces the Florentine receiver to drop the ball—a fumble occurring after the referees had already whistled the play dead due to the receiver's lack of forward progress. This is followed by a 15-yard penalty against Parma, setting the stage for a pass from Fimiani to Frankie Stola—who is ready and waiting—at the start of the second quarter.

Parma responds with a fine reception by Dominick Fiscelli, who quickly advances into the opposing Red Zone. This play sets up the evening's second touchdown for Titi Mpoko; he catches a pitch pass from Fuller and perfectly navigates the gaps to reach the end zone.

It takes just two plays for the Guelfi to retake the lead: Andrea Fimiani throws to Cosimo Camilli, who catches the ball on his own 40-yard line and, capitalizing on a defensive lapse, sprints away to score his first six points of the night.

Another long drive marks the Panthers' performance in the first half. Ismail Lamamra—a player who has both played in and won Italian Bowls in Milan with the Seamen—beats his defender in the end zone to score for Parma, tying the game.

The ensuing kickoff is a low kick by the Panthers; Michael Abera recovers it but then fumbles the ball. Fortunately, his team manages to salvage the situation and cover the error.

The first half concludes with two interceptions, one for each side. Fimiani is the first to see his performance marred, as Luca Montaresi snags the ball at midfield; then it is Fuller's turn to throw an interception, with Giovanni Scialdone making the catch in the end zone.

The teams headed to the locker room at halftime tied at 21-21, but early in the second half—with Florence on the attack—Fimiani had a pass intercepted by Montaresi again; however, a penalty against Parma partially spoiled the return. The interception stood, but the Panthers were forced to start from further back.

Montaresi himself—on a fourth down that looked like the prelude to a "three-and-out"—caught a flea-flicker pass from Fuller in open space.

Parma’s offensive drive was a long one, but it culminated in a touchdown catch by Matteo Ghelfi in the end zone, putting the black-and-silver team back in the lead.

However, the Parma side's lead wavered following a Red Zone catch by Giacomo Mibelli, which set the stage for another touchdown by Stola—this time on a contested ball where the officials ruled in favor of the "Viola" receiver. The game did not return to a tie, as the extra-point kick was blocked by the Panthers’ defense.

With a minute left in the third quarter, possession changed hands again—this time via a fumble by Lamamra recovered by Christian Sottura. This set the stage for the Guelfi to take the lead for good: a 50-yard play by Giacomo Mibelli, who was left unmarked by the opposing defense and easily ran into the end zone.

At the start of the final quarter, two officiating calls altered the course of the game. First, an interception by Giovanni Caccialupi was nullified due to an offside penalty against the Panthers. Then, a fumble recovery by Flavio Zanardi—who had also recorded the sack that caused the Guelfi quarterback to drop the ball—was disallowed by the officiating crew because the play was ruled dead.

That missed turnover opportunity led to another touchdown, once again courtesy of the Fimiani-Stola connection, with the Italian-American receiver stepping up when it counted.

On the ensuing drive, Fuller threw an interception to Jaren Banks, who returned it 68 yards for a "pick-six"—a play that effectively sealed the Italian Bowl victory for Florence.

Despite the massive deficit, Fuller redeemed himself by finding Fiscelli just shy of the goal line; Fiscelli finally put points on the board for his team.

Parma attempted an onside kick, but the execution was disastrous, allowing Christian Sottura to advance the ball to the edge of the red zone. The only Guelfi player left to score was Cosimo Casati, who ran in the final touchdown of a glorious night for Guelfi Firenze.

With the outcome already decided, Parma scored a consolation touchdown through Rocco Bonvicini; despite finding himself dangerously close to the back of the end zone, he managed to salvage the play and put points on the board. The game ended 53–43 in favor of the three-time Italian champions Guelfi Firenze—undefeated in the IFL for 22 consecutive games (their last loss was against the Panthers Parma in Ravenna during the 2024 Italian Bowl)—and there is no telling how long this home dominance will last for the Tuscan squad.

The Italian Bowl MVP is Frankie Stola; with 6 receptions, 3 touchdowns, and 174 yards, the 2026 IFL top scorer was deservedly named the game's best player.

The Italian Football League thus brings the curtain down on the 2026 season with the same champions as last year, yet with plenty of storylines ready for the upcoming season. Until then... Viva Fiorenza!

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2026 Silver Bowl – Seamen Milano vs. Thunders Trento: The Sailors Face the Lightning Storm

Before this weekend's main event, the menu offered a high-quality appetizer: the IFL2 final between Seamen Milano and Thunders Trento. These two teams, having already faced each other during the regular season, are now vying for the title in their third meeting of the year.

With one win apiece (14-0 for the Seamen in Week 3 and 21-14 for the Thunders in Week 8), this game will truly decide which of the two is the league's strongest team.

Due to an inferior point differential in their head-to-head matchups, the Thunders—who finished with a 6-2 record just like the Seamen—had to start their playoff run in the Wild Card Round. They defeated Trappers Cecina 38-7 and then staged a comeback road victory against the Daemons Monza e Brianza (who were undefeated at the time), winning 28-27. This marks the second final in three years for the Trento squad; they are seeking another triumph following their happy ending in Ravenna against Elephants Catania in the Nine Bowl two years ago.

For their part, the Milanese team beat Saints Padova 29-12, securing their first national final across the three divisions since 2022—specifically, the game they lost to Guelfi Firenze in the Italian Bowl in Bologna. Milano hasn't officially won a title since 2019, when they defeated the Guelfi in the Italian Bowl.

Right from the kickoff, Raven Ines—assisted by Gioele Schiavoni—attempts a trick play that fails to materialize. On their opening offensive drive, despite securing a first down and executing a couple of fine plays—a run by Guido Iddas and an aerial reception by Filippo Verrini—the Seamen fail to advance into enemy territory and are forced to punt the ball away. A 10-yard penalty derails the Thunders' opening offensive drive; unable to advance, they also narrowly avoid an interception by Riccardo Milan. It ends in a "three-and-out" and a punt for Trento.

A big play connecting Raven Ines and Gioele Schiavoni—a 40-yard pass—sets the stage for the day's first touchdown: another pass from the former Rhinos Milano quarterback, this time a 29-yarder to Simone Cavallo, who is ready and waiting to find the end zone.

A very long drive for Trento, spanning the end of the first quarter and the start of the second, ended in a turnover on downs just outside the opponent's red zone at the one-yard line; meanwhile, Milano failed to capitalize on the opportunity, immediately ending their own offensive series with a punt.

Trento tried to even the score again, but a play where Diego Vezzoli went down on one knee—resulting in a fumble at the opponent's one-yard line—dealt a crushing blow to the Trentino team's hopes.

Ines needed to relieve the pressure of starting from his own one-yard line; he found Gioele Schiavoni downfield, with the eighteen-year-old Milanese wide receiver breaking into opposing territory.

After a sack resulting in a six-yard loss, Ines redeemed himself with a pass to Simone Cavallo—a play mirroring the day's first touchdown—covering 40 total yards and securing another seven points.

Trento concluded its final drive of the first half with a fine reception by Bruno Boscia in enemy territory, moving the Thunders into opposing ground. However, a sack resulting in a 21-yard loss undid all their previous work, forcing Trento to punt from a precarious position.

Ines then opted to take a knee a couple of times, ending the first half with Seamen Milano leading 14–0.

The Thunders took the opening drive of the second half, starting strong with a 28-yard kick return by Jordi Ruiz Cano and a 15-yard run by Brice Mora Medina. Unfortunately, Trento quarterback Diego Vezzoli was unable to advance the team further, and possession changed hands after the Thunders failed to convert on fourth down. A fine 32-yard reception by Schiavoni and a 20-yard run by Guido Iddas—another standout performer in the game—give the Seamen another scoring opportunity. This time, Schiavoni connects on a two-yard touchdown pass into the end zone, extending the navy-blue team's lead to three possessions.

A late hit penalty against Trento on the kickoff allows the Thunders to start their drive in opposition territory, but the offense fails to capitalize, and the possession ends in a turnover on downs—yet another one in a game plagued by misfortune.

Even perfect games have their hiccups. First, Iddas fumbles the ball but recovers it after a six-yard loss; then, Ines throws an interception to Francesco Perri. Perri is stopped at the opponent's 43-yard line, but a personal foul penalty against Trento undoes the defensive effort.

The fourth quarter opens with a 28-yard run by Davide Todeschi on a fake punt, advancing the ball to the Seamen's 30-yard line. The offensive drive finally pays off with a 24-yard reception by Riccardo Galeotafiore. It is a touchdown that slightly shifts the momentum of a game that had been going poorly for them.

However, the Thunders' hopes are short-lived. First, Andrea Zini returns the kickoff for 30 yards; then, Guido Iddas takes over, completing a 46-yard run to bring the score to 28-7 in favor of Seamen Milano.

The icing on the cake comes from Ryan Lonzar—a former IFL champion with Guelfi Firenze who had returned to the field after a hiatus—as he intercepts a pass from the Trentino quarterback in the end zone, effectively sealing the victory.

After seven years, Seamen Milano are once again champions in a FIDAF league; meanwhile, a Trento side that lacked cutting edge—though they fought hard throughout the match—leaves the final with their heads held high.

Raven Ines—who had previously won a Silver Bowl with Rhinos Milano in 2019 during the orange-and-black team's stint in the Second Division—wins the final's MVP award. Starting this year, the award is named in memory of Francesco Aronica, the former wide receiver for Elephants Catania and Lazio Marines who died nearly a year ago following a tragic seaside accident in Puglia. Ines finished the game completing 8 of 13 passes for 222 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and one sack taken, alongside four rushing attempts for -7 yards.

It remains unclear whether Seamen Milano will participate in the upcoming Italian Football League season, but seeing the navy-blue squad triumph again after so many years has given insiders plenty to ponder. Will this very young roster maintain the same level next year in a higher-tier league? Only time will tell.

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2026 Nine Bowl – Honey Badgers Formigine vs. Crusaders Cagliari: A Title for a People

The third and final championship game of the weekend is the Nine Bowl—the title match of the Nine Football League, the third and final tier of Italian football. Taking the field in the Sunday heat of Ferrara are the Crusaders Cagliari, champions of the North Conference, and the Honey Badgers Formigine, winners of the South Conference title.

Separated by 795 kilometers, two cities dream of a title that is crucial for the sport's development. While one hails from Emilia-Romagna—one of many teams from the region that serves as the heartland of gridiron football in Italy—the other represents the hopes of an entire region: Sardinia.

Both teams entered the game undefeated (8-0) and began their postseason in the conference semifinals thanks to their high seeds. Cagliari defeated the Redskins Verona (26-14) and Wolverines Piacenza (24-21) in succession, while Formigine reached Ferrara by beating TFU Pisa (28-14) and Chiefs Ravenna (21-14).

The islanders take the opening offensive drive but gain only three yards, forcing them to punt.

The Honey Badgers Formigine’s opening offensive drive proves successful. A pass from QB Nicolò Zambelli to Stefano Barbieri allows the Emilian team to enter enemy territory; Enrico Goldoni then takes over, scoring the game's first points for the Formigine squad with a couple of runs. Formigine opts for the extra point, but the kick is blocked by the Sardinian special teams unit.

The remainder of the first quarter consists of two drives—one for each team—that both end in punts.

The second period begins with a time-consuming drive by the Crusaders that allows the Sardinians to take the lead. A twelve-yard run by Lorenzo Piva—who won the title last year with the Cavaliers Castelfranco before moving to Sardinia for work—followed by a successful extra point from William Badas, puts the islanders ahead.

The Honey Badgers respond with a field goal attempt to narrow the gap. Marius Chiriac attempts a 43-yard kick, but it falls short.

The second half opens with a blunder by the Honey Badgers' special teams: the returner leaves the ball at his own one-yard line, and the referees allow play to continue. Cagliari secures the ball at that spot and begins their drive from an excellent position. Piva capitalizes on this and enters the end zone.

On the next two drives, both teams attempt fake punts; while Formigine fails—resulting in a turnover on downs—Cagliari converts for a new first down, allowing Lorenzo Pastorino ("Su Trattoreddu") to run some forty yards into the end zone. Unfortunately, the extra point kick misses the uprights. Formigine’s next offensive drive ends in a "three-and-out," concluding with a terrible punt that lands on their own 40-yard line; the Crusaders capitalize immediately with a running play by Federico Dessì, who simply has to sprint to the goal line.

A dead-ball penalty gains crucial yardage for the Honey Badgers—a team that had lost momentum in the second half following the shock of conceding back-to-back touchdowns. The drive ends with a fourth-down attempt in enemy territory, but the pass is intercepted by Fabio Matta late in the third quarter.

Cagliari maintains its dominance on the field, running down the clock and managing the remaining time, knowing victory is within reach. Finally, Lorenzo Piva throws into the end zone to Michele Scano, who celebrates by feigning a limp before performing the "Griddy" dance.

On the ensuing drive, Formigine quarterback Nicolò Zambelli threw an interception to Giuseppe d’Angelo. Federico Saba then sealed the outcome of what had become a total rout with a 13-yard run.

Formigine conceded defeat and let the clock run out. For the third time in their history—following victories in 2004 and 2010—the Crusaders Cagliari triumphed in the Italian Third Division.

This marks the team's third title overall—their first since the 2010 perfect season and adding to their 2004 win—all achieved in the 9-a-side format over the Sardinian squad's thirty-plus-year history. Meanwhile, Formigine—playing in their first-ever final just five years after the club's founding—may have lacked a bit of player experience but nonetheless enjoyed a fantastic season.

To cap off the weekend, Crusaders Cagliari receiver Federico Dessì was named game MVP; he recorded two touchdowns and 155 total yards, comprising 55 rushing, 63 receiving, and 37 on kick returns.

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These final notes officially close the Italian tackle football season. As is tradition, the senior league will return around February or March of next year, while the youth championships will take place in the autumn.

Football action continues with the upcoming conclusion of the Flag Football finals and the Italian national team's campaign in Düsseldorf, Germany, where the World Championship takes place next month.

While the on-field action pauses, the conversation continues. Until the new season begins, First Down Mag will keep you updated on the Italian gridiron scene through its "News You Can Use" column, with all the best news from all around the leagues.

Until then… Have a great summer!