Vilseck hands Naples a rare loss at home

Vilseck sent a message to DODEA-Europe’s South conference in the 11-man football division on Saturday afternoon.

The Falcons traveled to Italy and handed Naples just its second home loss of this decade with a 20-17 victory.

Vilseck (1-0) had a combined three wins the past two seasons and got swept 80-4 by the Wildcats last year.

But these aren’t those Falcons under new coach David Nichols.

The visitors totaled 322 yards of offense, 259 of them coming on the ground behind center Zeke Herron and guards Elijah Smith and Christian Villa. The Falcons did a lot of their damage in the first half with 209 yards of offense.

Junior transfer Landon Smith found the end zone twice — a 7-yard rush in the first half and a 13-yard reception from sophomore quarterback Finn Nichols in the second half. Junior Sedric McGibboney chipped in with a 38-yard scamper, and senior Brett Edelman caught two passes for 50 yards.

For Naples, quarterback Kam McKinnon tossed a pair of touchdowns. His first came in the second quarter on a 54-yard connection with Nigel Ferguson before the half. In the fourth quarter, he hit Harold Rice for a 23-yarder.

Nico Calvo got the Wildcats on the board in the first quarter with a field goal. He also picked off a pass on defense.

Vilseck hosts Wiesbaden on Sept. 12, while Naples travels northeast but will stay in Italy to face off with Vicenza on Sept. 11.

Wiesbaden 53, Vicenza 0: The Warriors jumped all over the Cougars and never let up in a big home home victory on Friday evening.

The Wiesbaden defense clamped down on Vicenza (0-1). The unit amassed six interceptions, with Liam Ortiz snatching two and returning one for a pick-six. Christopher Galvez nabbed two, returning one 45 yards, while Alexander Varela and freshman Daniel Carter each had one.

Sam Erickson, Jacob Bruce, Wyatt Smith and Dwain Hinman each had sacks.

Senior linebacker Sage Kleisner recorded seven tackles, including multiple ones for a loss.

Ortiz scored the Warriors’ first two touchdowns, adding a 15-yard reception to his pick-six.

Freshman quarterback Campton Moschgat started off his Wiesbaden career on the right foot. He completed all four of his passes for 80 yards and three scores — a 27-yarder to Michael Dozier (two catches for 51 yards) and 14-yarder to Smith to go along with the one to Ortiz.

Moschgat added another touchdown on the ground.

Varela paced the rushing attack with 46 yards and a 28-yard score. Javelle Ortiz and Mark Maina found paydirt on the ground as well.

Six-man football

Ansbach 70, Brussels 40: When the Cougars and Brigands met Friday evening in the Belgian capital, it marked the return of two teams to DODEA-Europe’s football scene.

The fans in attendance could be forgiven for thinking they were watching a track meet instead of six-man football, though.

The Cougars and Brigands combined for more than triple-digit points, and one player in particular ran wild: Makai Sinclair.

The junior exploded for seven rushing touchdowns, passed for another two and took a kick to the house for a total of 10 scores. Elijah Thompson posted running and receiving touchdowns for Ansbach (1-0), while Aleksei Holloway grabbed a touchdown through the air.

For Brussels, Luke Young tossed three TDs and registered a sack on defense.

Petar Pranjic ran for three more scores and caught a touchdown. Dominic Young and Kenneth Watson caught touchdown passes.

The Cougars return to action with a home contest against Hohenfels on Sept. 12. The Brigands, meanwhile, cross the English Channel to face Alconbury the same day.

Spangdahlem 44, Hohenfels 6: The Sentinels picked up right where they left off last year with a season-opening road victory on Friday evening.

Adler Armstrong threw for three touchdowns to pace Spangdahlem (1-0). A.J. Smith and Roman Wells recorded two touchdowns each, and Malachi Murray and Bentley Abernathy added a touchdown each.

Hohenfels’ lone score came on a 66-yard pass from Cory Taylor to Matthew Stellfox.

The Sentinels host Baumholder on Sept. 11 in their next game. The Tigers (0-1) travel to Ansbach on Sept. 12.

Baumholder 53, Alconbury 14: The Buccaneers opened the season on the right note with a big win over the Dragons at home on Friday.

Baumholder’s Jaylon Bilbrew produced another head-turning performance. The junior rushed for 325 yards and five touchdowns on just nine carries. He added a 52-yard punt return for a score.

Freshman Chris Bowden found the end zone on his lone two rushes and totaled 62 yards.

Pene Vaisagote made eight tackles with three for a loss and fumble recovery. Bowden recorded seven tackles with two for a loss, Justin Velez Benitez had six tackles and two fumble recoveries for the Buccaneers (1-0).

Alconbury (1-0) scored all its points in the fourth quarter. Senior Daniel Scavola ran for a 20-yard score, while junior Darian Payton scampered for a 70-yard touchdown.

Stars and Stripes did not receive any information from two other games scheduled on opening weekend.