More Than Perfect: Guelfi Firenze Wins the 2025 Italian Bowl in Toledo

Guelfi Firenze are back in business, as they have won the 44th edition of the Italian Bowl, the second one in Toledo (Ohio, United States).

For the second time in the club’s history, the purple team has won it all by defeating the Dolphins Ancona 49-14 in dominant fashion. After 2 disappointing finals played in the last two years, Guelfi was devastating all game just like they were during the regular season, beating the green and orange side, who had been waiting for a championship game since 2004. And just like that, the second championship game hosted in the United States, just like the 2025 Italian Football League itself, is in the books after a four-month long journey.

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1st Quarter

Guelfi win the toss, but defer their choice to the second half, so the Dolphins will start on offense in their first Italian Bowl since 2004.

Blake Eaton starts his first drive with three passes to Tyler Terhark and a couple of first downs for Ancona but unfortunately gets picked off by Eystin Salum on a 1st and 10 at the Guelfi 28 yard line and returned all the way to the opposing 37 yard line.

The first Guelfi drive ends with a turnover on downs after a three and out by Andrea Fimiani, the IFL’s best Italian player and MVP, after just a couple of yards conquered. Valentino Rotelli almost intercepts Fimiani on a 4th and 8 play, but the attempt nonetheless gives an early end for the purple team’s first offensive maneuver.

The next drive for the Dolphins also ends on a three and out, as the green and orange side does not take advantage of the turnover on downs. Only four yards were gained by the Dolphins, and they are forced to punt once again.

Frankie Stola gets stopped at the 50 yard line after the punt and Guelfi get the ball back. A 21 yard complete pass for Eystin Salum and a 16 yard run by Cosimo Casati, who is returning after missing half of the season because of an injury, sets the ball in the red zone. Fimiani runs the ball to the end zone and Florence scores first in this game. The extra point attempt by Cosimo Camilli gets blocked by the defense.

The next Dolphins drive is short. Eaton loses the football on 1st and 15 after a false start and Dario Pinzauti recovers the fumble at the Guelfi 47 yard line. The purple offense takes advantage and scores once again with a reception by Giacomo Mibelli for 11 yards and the 14-0 lead, because Guelfi tries the 2 point conversion, making it with another Fimiani-Mibelli connection.

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2nd Quarter

After another drive ends on a punt for Ancona, Guelfi manages to score at the start of the second quarter thanks to a Stefano Bartoccioni reception into the end zone and the PAT scored by Camilli.

Another offensive maneuver for Ancona gets ruined thanks to a false start penalty and a tackle for loss, and the Dolphins are forced to punt the ball once again. The kicker and the special teams place the ball inside the Guelfi 13 yard line, but after a long drive, Andrea Fimiani completes the job, breaking the plane on a 1 yard run.

The Dolphins end their first half with a three and out, while Guelfi try to eat some clock to end the second quarter and go to the locker room with a four possession lead. Salum gets sacked on fourth down by Marco Fiorini with no time left on the clock. Guelfi are up 28-0 at the half, playing better football than the other team.

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3rd Quarter

The second half begins with Guelfi on offense after a devastating first period of the game. Cosimo Casati, coming back after a long injury, returns the first kick to his own 41 yard line, but the first drive ends with a punt, just like the first one of the Dolphins, ending on another three and out.

Guelfi score once again on a great reception by Casati, who celebrates his comeback on the field with a deciding TD to take a 35-0 lead.

A late flag ruins the next offensive drive for Ancona, who’s forced once again to give up and punt the ball away to the Guelfi offense, scoring once again thanks to a 50 yards pass from Fimiani to Frankie Stola, continuing his great first season in Italian football with a TD during the Italian Bowl.

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4th Quarter

After struggling all around during the game, the Dolphins finally score a TD after a long drive that ended at the start of the final quarter. Matteo Dazzani, Ancona WR and kicker, catches the ball in the endzone and finally puts Rik Parker’s side on the board with a 19 yards pass by Blake Eaton.

Guelfi strike back immediately with another long drive. This time Andrea Fimiani enters the end zone after a 6 yard QB run with just 5 minutes left in the game. After the 2 minute warning, the Dolphins score again, this time on a 20 yard pass from Eaton to Antonio Nocera, and Dazzani scoring the extra point.

Eystin Salum takes over as QB and only takes a couple of kneels to cement the final result of 49-14 for Guelfi Firenze, the 2025 Italian Football League champions.

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Guelfi win their second IFL title in the team's history during their fourth straight appearance at the Italian Bowl. Their first and only title was conquered in 2022, when they defeated Seamen Milano in Bologna, while Ancona, who was returning to the final after 21 long years, is now 0-5 at the Italian Bowl. This is also the first perfect season since 2021. Panthers Parma, with players like Reilly Hennessey and Nick Diaco on the field and Marc Mattioli (former Paris Musketeers HC) on the sideline, were the last undefeated team in the IFL by ending the regular season with a 8-0 record and defeating the Seamen in Piacenza in overtime.

The best player of the game, just like during the regular season, was Guelfi QB Andrea Fimiani, who scored 3 TD runs and 4 TD passes on 468 all-purpose yards, giving up just 2 sacks and no interceptions.

After 4 months full of TDs, great battles on the field and magical moments, the Italian Football League comes to a close, but First Down Mag will still continue to inform you on what happens around the league and all the movements during the offseason!