There are defeats that simply sting, and defeats that teach. The one in Turin belongs to the second category. Txt Eagles Ferrara they give in 29-14 to Jaguars in a match decided by the special teams, by a dominant running back and a handful of plays that shifted the momentum of the match irreversibly.
The start is a duel between the defenses. The Eagles gain an extra possession thanks to a Jaguars muffed punt—a poorly handled return—but are unable to capitalize. A Greenfield fumble gives Ferrara possession back, but again the offense fails to break through. The message is clear: today, every yard must be earned.
The second quarter heats up, and Greenfield does. Kraft finds Bindini with a 29-yard pass for the first touchdown of the game. Antochi’s pass scores: 7-0 Eagles. The Jaguars’ response is immediate and devastating. Tenconi returns the kickoff 75 yards, placing the Turin offense directly on the Eagles’ 30-yard line. From there, Greenfield needs no encouragement: 26 yards rushing and a touchdown. The game ties.
A few minutes later, another punt return gave the home team a red-zone start. Greenfield struck again, this time from 5 yards out. At halftime, Turin led 14-7, and the feeling was that the game was being played on a slope due to the work of Turin’s special teams.
The third quarter saw a return to the defensive script. The Jaguars started with the ball but couldn’t find the end zone. The Eagles mounted a promising drive to the goal line, but their seemingly easy 11-yard field goal went wide.
The final quarter opens with a 30-yard field goal by Salsa: 17-7 Turin. But it’s the next play that virtually seals the game. Lazzaretto reads the quarterback’s eyes, intercepts, and runs 60 yards to the end zone. Pick six. Pat misses, but the scoreboard now reads 23-7, and the mood has changed. It will end 29-14 to the Piedmontese.