Saints score on offense and defense to top Spartans

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy – The Aviano Saints took over sole possession of first place in DODEA-Europe’s nine-man football league Saturday by using an opportunistic defense to down SHAPE, 47-14.

Brylee Hillis and Prince Asaeli each returned interceptions for touchdowns and Bayron Cerron returned a fumble for a score to give the Saints (3-0) a win on their homecoming. It was the first loss of the season for the Spartans (3-1).

SHAPE took a 6-0 lead by scoring on its opening possession.

“It took us a couple of possessions to get going,” Aviano coach Jason Stanley said.

The Saints did that by going to the air to Hillis, who caught one short touchdown pass from Noah Stanley and another long one. Cooper Oakley mirrored that on the ground with one long touchdown run and another short one.

Aviano travels to Rota next weekend while SHAPE tries to bounce back by visiting the International School of Brussels.

Rota 19, AFNORTH 12: The Admirals stopped AFNORTH and a fourth and goal from the 3-yard line to seal a home win over the Lions on Saturday.

Xavier Lozada paced Rota (3-1) in the victory. He scored all three touchdowns – two on the ground and one through the air. The passing score went to Kolton McCarver. The signal caller finished with 85 yards rushing.

Leo McFarland picked off a pass defensively.

SHAPE's Xavier Barjolo lets it fly Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 in the Spartans' game against Aviano at Aviano Air Base, Italy. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)

11-man

Naples 45, Vicenza 2: The Wildcats bounced back and kept their playoff hopes alive with a big win at home over the Cougars on Friday evening.

Nigel Ferguson had a big game early, playing a hand in the first three Naples scores.

He opened the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown, and he followed that up with a pair of passing touchdowns – a 32-yarder to Harold Rice and a 22-yarder to Ryan Mumby.

Kam McKinnon found Rice for a 33-yard score on the other side of halftime. The quarterback then ran for a pair of TDs. For the first, he kept the ball on an option play and scampered 50 yards to pay dirt. Then he crossed for the goal line on a QB sneak to intact the mercy rule.

The Wildcats forced five turnovers. Hyaden Schmall corralled two fumble recoveries, while Mumby picked off two passes. In his first game for Naples. Sam Migez-Jimenez also recorded an interception.

Naples travels to Vilseck in a contest that could decide the South conference’s second playoff team on Oct. 3. Vicenza (0-4), meanwhile, hosts Wiesbaden the same day.

Wiesbaden 43, Vilseck 2: The Warriors clinched a playoff spot with a rout of the Falcons.

Wiesbaden (4-0) forced eight turnovers – six interceptions and two fumbles – to stymy Vilseck (2-2).

Valentino Moss recovered a fumble forced by his brother Brandon, and Valentino added a sack. Sage Kleisner recorded three tackles for a loss and an interception. Jacob Arteaga grabbed another fumble recovery.

Others with interceptions were Liam Ortiz with two, Christopher Galvez, Jacob Bruce and Daniel Carter. Ortiz returned his one interception to the end zone.

Ramstein 41, Lakenheath 0: The Royals clinched a playoff spot with a big win over the Lancers on Saturday at Lakenheath.

No other information was available at print time.

Six-man

Spangdahlem 46, Alconbury 6: The Sentinels continued their dominance with a mercy-rule victory in England against the Dragons on Saturday.

A.J. Smith had two rushing scores, while Marshall Newton added another.

Quarterback Adler Armstrong tossed a pair of scores, one to Jason Tyler and another to Roman Wells.

Noah Aubuchon picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown defensively.

Solomon Wells also went 5-of-5 on PATs.

Spangdahlem (4-0) hosts Hohenfels on Oct. 2. Alconbury (1-3) travels to Ansbach to take on the Cougars on Oct. 3.

Baumholder 40, Ansbach 0: The Buccaneers took control of second place in the division with a decisive home victory over the Cougars on Friday evening.

No other information was available at press time.

Hohenfels 54, Brussels 12: The Tigers picked up their second straight win in a home rout of the Brigands on Saturday.

Ezekiel Davenport scored three touchdowns for Hohenfels (2-2). Kamren Newsome, Josiah Smith, Matthew Stellfox and Noah Henry each added one score, and Nathanial Reyes produced a pick six, which was one of two interceptions for Reyes.

Defensively, Jameson Trotter amassed four tackles for a loss, while Stryder Houghton contributed another two. Logan Mitchell also had a sack.

Dominic Young and Peter Pranjic got Brussels (0-4) on the scoreboard. Soren Guevara and Nick Ciccione each recorded a sack.