A trio of Naples tacklers, including Diondre Tilo, right, and Jeramiah Robinson stop Vicenza’s Austin Perry from gaining any more ground Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
VICENZA, Italy – Very few football teams are in top form at the beginning of the season. So Naples coach Jim Davis didn’t have too much to be upset with following his team’s 28-6 victory Friday over Vicenza.
“This was only our second game,” Davis said. “Normally, teams don’t peak until the sixth or seventh game.”
Unfortunately for Naples, Friday’s game also marked the halfway point of the regular season – minus a matchup against a yet-to-be-determined Division I foe a week before the Wildcats presumably attempt to defend their D-II title.
After Aviano failed to field a team this fall for the first time in school history, the number of DODEA-Europe 11-man football teams in Italy shrunk to two. Both Naples and Vicenza have already defeated the third – and final – team in the D-II field this season, Rota, in consecutive trips to Spain. So Friday’s contest marked the end of the first round of head-to-head matchups.
And while Friday’s game was much closer than Naples’ 40-0 victory a year ago on the same field, the Wildcats still loom as the favorites to retain the title.
“It has been a while since we’ve beaten those guys,” Vicenza coach Jesse Woods said, looking at the opposite sideline before the start of the game. His team likely will get two more chances this year if form holds true. Vicenza visits Naples Oct. 18 and the Wildcats might host them again in the championship game.
The Cougars kept Friday’s contest close in the first half, despite fumbling the ball five times. Although they controlled the time of possession, it was a series of big Wildcats plays that made the difference.
“Not only on the offensive end, but on the defensive end,” Davis said.
Vicenza and Naples players scramble for a loose ball Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in the Wildcats’ 28-6 victory in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Vicenza quarterback Maxwell Thrash tries to juke Naples defenders Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in the Cougars’ 28-6 loss to the Wildcats. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Naples’ Gab-riel Doran strips Vicenza quarterback Maxwell Thrash of the ball during his throwing motion Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 in Vicenza, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Vicenza’s Davon Gann and Naples’ Gab-riel Doran go up to try to catch a pass from Naples quarterback Camden Kasparek on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. The ball eventually fell to the ground for an incomplete pass. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Vicenza quarterback Maxwell Thrash gets a pass out before the Naples rush can close in Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in the Wildcats’ 28-6 victory. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
It only took Naples three plays to score on its first possession. Quarterback Camden Kasparek connected with Gab-riel Doran for a 36-yard pass and two plays later, Micael Daniels went into the end zone from a yard out. Joshua Banks added the first of four PATs.
Vicenza countered with burly Andrew Overstreet’s 2-yard run to cut the margin to 7-6. Overstreet, one of the largest players on the field, had several carries in the contest and was part of a Vicenza strategy to try to overpower and wear out the Wildcats with run after run between the tackles.
“We wanted to make the Naples defense work a little more,” Woods said. “But in the second half, our guys started to get tired and we missed some blocks.”
Naples had taken a 14-6 advantage at the half thanks to another big play: Leshei Morgan’s 30-yard run in the second quarter. Morgan had appeared to be stopped after about a 7-yard gain but did a 360-degree spin to separate himself from his tacklers and then sprinted down the right sideline into the end zone.
After Naples missed a field goal to end their first second-half possession, Vicenza mishandled the ball again and this time Naples’ Phoenix GoOco pounced on the ball. Daniels scored on a 3-yard run a few plays later and it was 21-6. The Wildcats finished the scoring when Kasparek connected with Doran on a 38-yard-touchdown. Two more Naples scores were nixed by a penalty on a 51-yard punt return and a fumble at the goal line that Vicenza recovered.
But that was more than enough for the Naples defense, which held Vicenza to 43 total yards in the second half. For the game, Naples outgained Vicenza 301 yards to 152. Kasparek threw for 145 yards. Morgan rushed for 80.
Naples could wrap up a spot in the championship game next week when it hosts Rota, while Vicenza gets a bye before hosting Stuttgart’s JV squad on Oct. 5.
Vicenza’s Davon Gann shoves away a Naples defender Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, while making a short gain in the Cougars’ 28-6 loss to the Wildcats. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
There was plenty of activity on both sides of the line Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, during a Division II football battle between Naples and Vicenza. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Naples’ Micael Daniels manages to hang onto the ball - barely - in the Wildcats’ 28-6 victory over Vicenza on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Naples quarterback Camden Kasparek tries to get the ball to an open receiver Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in the Wildcats’ 28-6 victory over Vicenza. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Naples’ Jeramiah Robinson twists sideways Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, to try to elude a pair of Vicenza defenders after making a catch in the Wildcats’ 28-6 victory. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
