I can't believe that today is our last day! What a week it has been - quite the whirlwind but above and beyond what I ever could have imagined! American Football Worldwide has been amazing and this whole trip has gone off without a hitch!
We got up early and had breakfast at the hotel. The boys did a final walkthrough since today is game day - and we packed up into the bus to take us to Milan. We met our tour guide and did a relatively short walking tour of the city. We started at the Galleria and walked through the city to the old castle. I was really surprised how much I loved Milan! It is a beautiful city with a lot of modern attributes that don't seem to push out the history or ancient buildings. It didn't seem as crowded as Rome or Florence - but that was probably due to it being the day before Easter!
We had a great tour of the castle - I had never even heard of it before so it was a very welcome a pleasant surprise. It was enormous - more like a huge walled courtyard and it was in really good condition. The Italians defiantly do a great job of keeping their tourist attractions in great condition. After the Castle, we walked to a local restaurant for lunch. We had pasta and meat and fruit for dessert. Every meal is HUGE and takes forever. It's one thing that I don't love about Italy - don't get me wrong - I love a good meal but it seems a bit excessive to spend 2 hours at EVERY SINGLE MEAL!
After lunch we took the bus over to the stadium for the USA vs Italy game! The boys have been preparing all week and were a bit anxious before the game as they didn't know what to expect from the other team. Once the game started it became obvious pretty quickly that the USA team was head and shoulders above the Italian team. It was a good game though - with some competitive moments. The Italian team did score and managed to get an interception. Team USA ended up overpowering Italy and we won - 53-13. We took a lot of after game photos and packed up and headed out to a huge pizza restaurant for a celebratory dinner and cake!
Can't believe we have to leave tomorrow - it's been a fantastic week!
Photos from the Game: https://beckycullinan.smugmug.com/American-Football-Worldwide-Italy-2023/USA-vs-Italy/
Photos of Milan: https://beckycullinan.smugmug.com/American-Football-Worldwide-Italy-2023/Italy-Day-7-Milan/
Here is the game summary that was written by head coach Jim Barnes:
AFW ELITE TEAM STEPS UP IN ITALY
DEFEATS ITALIAN NATIONAL 21U TEAM 53-13
American Football Worldwide’s HS Select ELITE TEAM met the challenge in defeating a national team from Italy comprised of players 21 years of age and younger from American Football clubs from throughout the host country. The game was played April 8th on a brilliant Italian spring afternoon in Milan Italy’s renowned Vigorelli Stadium in front of a fun, spirited crowd of Italian American Football fans and family members and fans who supported the USA team; many of whom had traveled to the overseas game. The USA representative team prevailed 53-13.
AFW’s ELITE TEAM kicked-off to start the game and the defense set the tone. After a 15-yard penalty gave the Italian team a first down, the AFW defense earned the first of four consecutive three-and-outs; not allowing Italian team offense to get untracked early. When the AFW’s ELITE TEAM gained possession, quarterback Vincent Ferrara (Wellesley HS, MA), completed his first two passes for 1st downs and then Angelo LaRose (Worcester South HS, MA) rambled 36 yards to the Italy 8-yard line. Four plays later LaRose capped off the 68-yard drive by powering in behind the blocks of Caleb Porter (Plymouth HS, OH) and Caleb Garrison (American Leadership Academy, AZ) from the 1-yard line and after the extra-point the USA-representative team lead 7-0.
The AFW defense proved to be too stout and with Raiden Gonzales (Poway HS, CA) and Aiden Cullinan (The Potomac School, MD) contributing a tackle-for-loss the Italian ‘Blue Team’ was forced to punt. Starting at their own 42-yard line on their, second play from scrimmage Ferrara went deep to Chris White (Lincoln HS, San Diego, CA) who made a sensational catch over the back of the defender to haul in a 43-yard reception putting the ball at Italy’s 15-yard line. Moments later LaRose went in for his second score this time from 2 yards out and the USA went up 14-0.
On Italy’s third drive Nate Dlugos (Greensburg Central Catholic HS, Irwin, PA) made a key 3rd down pass break-up and forced Italy to punt. Jack Ryan (Mission Bay HS, CA) contributed a 10-yard punt return and with a 15-yard personal foul tacked on the AFW ELITE TEAM started in Italy territory. A double pass with Ethan Silber (Mission Bay HS, CA) catching the lateral pass then completing the ball downfield to Armando Melendez (Red Bank Catholic HS, NJ) put the USA team on Italy’s 16-yard line. As the game moved to the 2nd quarter the Italian defense stiffened and AFW ELITE TEAM had to settle for a 32-yard field goal from Adrian Guerrero (Willowbrook HS, IL), who also tacked on six extra-points on the day. The USA lead increased to 17-0.
An ill-advised decision to return the subsequent kickoff put Italy in a hole starting their next drive on their own 5-yard line. USA’s Gianluca Saracino (Canterbury School, FL) had two stops at the LOS and Chandler Stevens (Highland HS, OH) had contributed a tackle-for-loss forcing 4th down when Italy’s punter stepped on the endline coming down from fielding a high snap. The safety gave the American team 2-points increasing their lead to 19-0.
On the subsequent USA possession, the Italian defense came up with another stop. With the ball on their own 31-yard line, an interception on 4th down turned the ball over to their offense. Gaining some much-needed momentum the Italy offense hit on a series of short completions producing 1st downs and for the first time moving into AFW ELITE TEAMterritory. After converting a key 4th down sneak, Italy found a seam for a 39-yard touchdown pass. The 2-point conversion attempt failed, but late in the 2nd quarter Italy had closed the gap to 19-6.
However, USA’s AFW ELITE TEAM displayed its skill in executing a textbook 2-minute drill. Starting at their own 10 after a penalty, Vincent Ferrara and the offense went back to work. Around a couple of LaRose runs and completions to Braeden Belanger (American Leadership Academy, AZ) who had seven catches on the day, Vincent Ferrara connected with his brother Xavier Ferrara (Wellesley HS, MA) putting the AFW ELITE TEAM into Italy territory. From the Italy 30-yard line the brother duo connected again for a touchdown strike that with the extra-point pushed the margin out to 26-6 in favor of the USA team at the half.
Italy started the second half with a spark as they produced a fumble on the ELITE TEAM kick-off return. However, with field position starting at the USA 24-yard line the Italian 21U ‘Blue Team’ could not capitalize and after Damian Banaszewski (Willowbrook HS, IL) produced a 3-yard tackle-for-loss on 3rd a 4th down incompletion put the ball back in the USA team’s possession.
Taking over at their own 24-yard line, ELITE TEAM’s Angelo LaRose went back to work behind the offensive line and blocks by Tim Anderson (Delbarton School, NJ), Cody Going (Mission Viejo, CA), Eddie Valdes (Harlem HS, IL) and Sean McCarthy (Delbarton HS, NJ) putting the ball past mid-field. Once again, the Ferrara brothers hooked up for a 33 yard completion placing the ball at Italy’s 20-yard line. A 17-yard completion to Belanger put the ball at the Italy three. Two plays later Vincent Ferrara took it in from the one and after another Guerrero extra point the AFW ELITE TEAMconfirmed they would not allow a comeback pushing the score to 33-6.
On the next series Italy was put in a hole with Jimmy Degnan’s (Willowbrook HS, IL) tackle-for-a-loss. Seeking to go deep on 3rd down AFW’s Chris White was in position intercepting the ball at the USA 43 and dynamically returning it 53 yards to Italy’s 4-yard line. Three plays later it was Nick Washington (Friendship Collegiate Academy, Washington DC) throwing a two-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Ferrara making the score 40-6 at the end of the 3rd quarter.
On Italy’s next series, after a 1st down brought the ball near mid-field this time it was Ethan Silber (Mission Bay HS, CA) on the interception tacking on a 20-yard return. A penalty on Italy oved the ball to Italy’s 29-yard line where on the first play LaRose, named the game’s MVP, took it in from there to put AFW’s lead at 47-6.
However, on their next drive Italy scored again when after a 1st down a tipped ball went into the hands of an Italy receiver just behind the defense who with only green in front of him converted a fortunate 66-yard TD pass. Italy’s extra point made the score 47-13.
On the USA’s next and final drive, after an errant snap led to a 31-yard loss, on 2nd & 46 Ferrara remarkably hooked up with Ethan Silber for a 75-yard touchdown pass that made the final score at 53-13.
Post-game handshakes and social time reflected the respect forged and joy experienced between players from the two teams and two countries an ocean apart.
The game can be viewed – USA AFW ELITE TEAM vs. Italian National 21U Team.
This was the 10th time AFW’s ELITE TEAM traveled abroad to represent the USA and American Football. The week preceding any international contest includes a week of educational travel and exploration of the host country culture. This tour started in Rome and visited Siena, Florence, Cinque Terra, Como and Milan Italy with a half-day excursion to Lugano, Switzerland. AFW expects to offer another opportunity or two for HS players and families to travel and compete in the spring of 2024. For more information visit American Football Worldwide or write to mailto:info@americanfootballworldwide.com.
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