Football improves to 6-0 in international competition with 79-0 victory over FIDAF All-Stars
By Tim Glon
| 2023 ONU Tour of Italy site | Photos | Box Score (.pdf) |
CIAMPINO, Italy -- The Ohio Northern football team improved to 6-0 in international competition on Sunday with a 79-0 victory over a team of Federazione Italiana Di American Football All-Stars on a beautiful sunny afternoon at Arnaldo Fuso Stadium.
The Polar Bears scored touchdowns on all 10 of their offensive possessions and added a first quarter pick-6 and a safety on a bad snap from center on a punt to post the most lopsided score in ONU's international competition history.
Donald Crawford ran 17 times for 154 yards and three touchdowns to earn MVP honors for ONU.
L.J. Payton caught two passes for 106 yards and TDs of 46 and 60 yards.
All four ONU quarterbacks threw one touchdown pass each, as the foursome completed 8-of-12 passes for 185 yards.
Ohio Northern out-gained the Italians in total offense 484-30.
The Polar Bear defense posted six sacks and held FIDAF to minus-35 yards rushing.
Tyler Irigoyen led the defensive effort with three tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Jonmichael Elliott was a perfect 11-for-11 on PATs.
Northern took a quick 7-0 lead when Crawford banged in from a yard out in the fifth minute of the game.
There was no scoreboard clock and the teams played the standard 12-minute quarters of international football.
The teams also played on a 90-yard field.
Brennon Norris then hit Payton over the top for a 60-yard score roughly three minutes later and it was 14-0.
Bryce Paul had a 32-yard pick-6 on the ensuing possession and it was 21-0 after the first quarter.
Italy was forced to a 3-and-out and had a bad snap from center on the ensuing punt attempt sail out of the back of the end zone for a safety and the lead was 23-0 one play into the second quarter.
Evan Tekancic then hit Payton on a 46-yard TD strike to put ONU up 30-0 just two minutes later.
Eli Lynch caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Braeden Saya and Noah Miller scored on a 30-yard TD reception from Tyler Clum as Ohio Northern took a 44-0 lead into intermission.
Northern then marched 65 yards in 10 plays and scored on a 3-yard run by Michael Stitt midway through the third quarter to make it 51-0.
Crawford banged in from a yard out two minutes later to increase the advantage to 58-0.
The Polar Bears then got creative on their next drive, as offensive lineman Zach Binnix was inserted at running back.
Eight consecutive runs by Binnix netted 40 yards and he capped the drive with a 5-yard run and it was 65-0.
Saya took a turn at tailback on the next drive and ran five times for 26 yards and a 5-yard TD with less than three minutes left to give Ohio Northern a 72-0 lead.
Northern got the ball back with less than a minute left after a turnover deep in Italy territory and was lined up in the victory position to close out the game.
But the Italians wanted Northern to keep playing, and after a loud but friendly protest from the hosts, Crawford rumbled in from 11 yards out two plays later on the game's final play to wrap up the 79-0 victory.
ONU finished the day with a 23-4 advantage in first downs.
The Italian team was made up of top players from third-level teams Vespe Taranto, Navy Seals Bari, Spiders Salento and Achei Crotone.