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VICENZA, Italy – The Aviano Saints, off to their best start this century, got a scare Friday night from a team that’s off to one of its worst.Senior Corey Webb intercepted a pass and returned it to the 2-yard line midway through the final quarter, then scored on a quarterback keeper to give Aviano a 6-0 victory over winless Vicenza and move the Saints (4-0 in Division II-South) closer to hosting a first-round playoff game.“We played the best we have all season,” Vicenza coach Adam Ridgley said. “It was pretty much back-and-forth, back-and-forth. A few inches here or there and it might have been a different game.”The Cougars, who fell to 0-4, had one drive end in a fumble, another stopped by a holding penalty, one finished with an overthrown pass and one more halted by a dropped pass, Ridgley said.Vicenza, which travels to Hohenfels to end the season Oct. 15, also had a touchdown run called back due to a penalty.“We shot ourselves in the foot a few times,” Ridgley said.“They’re 0-4, but they’re a pretty good football team,” Aviano coach Rick Dahlstrom said.Dahlstrom’s team also had some missed opportunities, failing to convert on two field goal attempts, he said. But the Saints blocked a Vicenza field goal attempt and ended up dampening Vicenza’s homecoming celebration.Running back Aaron Hogg carried the load for Vicenza, Ridgley said, although stats were not available immediately after the game.Nik Weisner had a first-half interception for Aviano, which hosts Ansbach next Friday. Darien Cornett and Darnell Lewis led the Saints defense.Aviano would clinch a first-round game at home if Ansbach (3-0) beats Naples (2-1) Saturday. A victory over Ansbach , a perennial football power, the following week would give Aviano the DII-South title.

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